benoit kornmann › Likes

Science (New York, N.Y.) (25 June 2009) Communication between organelles is an important feature of all eukaryotic cells. To uncover components involved in mitochondria/endoplasmic reticulum (ER) junctions, we screened for mutants that could be complemented by a synthetic protein designed to artificially tether the two organelles. We identified the Mmm1/Mdm10/Mdm12/Mdm34 complex as a molecular tether between ER and mitochondria. The tethering complex was composed of proteins resident of both ER and mitochondria. Using genome-wide mapping of genetic interactions, we showed that the components of the tethering complex were functionally connected to phospholipid biosynthesis and calcium signaling genes. In mutant cells, phospholipid biosynthesis was impaired. The tethering complex localized to discrete foci, suggesting that discrete sites of close apposition between ER and mitochondria facilitate interorganelle calcium and phospholipid exchange. Benoît Kornmann, Erin Currie, Sean... - Andrew Perry

A very neat way to screen for components involved in organelle-organelle association. I also love the way using a chimeric protein and a complementation screen of mutants becomes "Synthetic Biology". Go buzzwords ! - Andrew Perry