Endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria tethering in neurodegenerative diseases

AbstractEndoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria are tubular organelles with a characteristic “network structure” that facilitates the formation of inter-organellar connections. As a result, mitochondria-associated ER membranes (MAMs), a subdomain of the ER that is tightly linked to and communicates with mitochondria, serve multiple physiological functions including lipid synthesis and e xchange, calcium signaling, bioenergetics, and apoptosis. Importantly, emerging evidence suggests that the abnormality and dysfunction of MAMs have been involved in various neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease. This rev iew will focus on the architecture and function of MAMs and its involvement in the neurodegenerative diseases.
Source: Translational Neurodegeneration - Category: Neurology Source Type: research