UC Berkeley

Background

Spatial compartmentalization of metabolic pathways within membrane-separated organelles is key to the ability of eukaryotic cells to precisely regulate their biochemical functions. Membrane-bound organelles such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and lysosomes enable the concentration of metabolic precursors within optimized chemical environments, greatly accelerating the efficiency of both anabolic and catabolic reactions, enabling division of labor and optimal utilization of resources. However, metabolic compartmentalization also poses a challenge to cells because it creates spatial discontinuities that must be bridged for reaction cascades to be connected and completed. To do so, cells employ different methods to coordinate metabolic fluxes occurring in different organelles, such as membrane-localized transporters to facilitate regulated metabolite exchange between mitochondria and lysosomes, non-vesicular transport pathways via physical contact sites connecting the ER with both mitochondria and lysosomes, as well as localized regulatory signaling processes that coordinately regulate the activity of all these organelles.

Scope of review

This review covers how cells use membrane transporters, membrane contact sites, and localized signaling pathways to mediate inter-organelle communication and coordinate metabolism. We also describe how disruption of inter-organelle communication is an emerging driver in a multitude of diseases, from cancer to neurodegeneration.

Major conclusions

Effective communication among organelles is essential to cellular health and function. Identifying the major molecular players involved in mediating metabolic coordination between organelles will further our understanding of cellular metabolism in health and lead us to design better therapeutics against dysregulated metabolism in disease.