Main description:

This book provides the first comprehensive coverage of the quickly evolving research field of membrane contact sites (MCS). A total of 16 chapters explain their organization and role and unveil the significance of MCS for various diseases.

MCS, the intracellular structures where organellar membranes come in close contact with one another, mediate the exchange of proteins, lipids, and ions. Via these functions, MCS are critical for the survival and the growth of the cell. Owing to that central role in the functioning of cells, MCS dysfunctions lead to important defects of human physiology, influence viral and bacterial infection, and cause disease such as inflammation, type II diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, and cancer. To approach such a multifaceted topic, this volume assembles a series of chapters dealing with the full array of research about MCS and their respective roles for diseases. Most chapters also introduce the history and the state of the art of MCS research, which will initiate discussion points for the respective types of MCS for years to come.

This work will appeal to all cell biologists as well as researchers on diseases that are impacted by MCS dysfunction. Additionally, it will stimulate graduate students and postdocs who will energize, drive, and develop the research field in the near future.

Contents:

Part 1: Overview of Organelle Contacts

Chapter 1: Organelle Communication at Membrane Contact Sites (MCS): From Curiosity to Center Stage in Cell Biology and Biomedical Research

Part 2: Organization and Roles of Organelle Contact Sites

Chapter 2: Over Six Decades of Discovery and Characterization of the Architecture at Mitochondria-Associated Membranes (MAMs)

Chapter 3: Regulation of mitochondrial dynamics and autophagy by the mitochondria-associated membrane

Chapter 4: Endoplasmic Reticulum-Mitochondria Communication Through Ca2+ signaling: the importance of mitochondria associated membranes (MAMs)

Chapter 5: Ceramide transport from the endoplasmic reticulum to the trans Golgi region at organelle membrane contact sites

Chapter 6: Endoplasmic Reticulum - Plasma Membrane cross-talk mediated by the extended synaptotagmins

Chapter 7: Endoplasmic Reticulum-Plasma membrane contacts regulate cellular excitability

Chapter 8: The lipid droplet and the endoplasmic reticulum

Chapter 9: Role of intra- and inter-mitochondrial membrane contact sites in yeast phospholipid biogenesis

Chapter 10: Discovery and roles of ER-endolysosomal contact sites in disease

Part 3: Infection and Disease

Chapter 11: Alzheimer disease

Chapter 12: Mitochondrial-associated membranes in Parkinson's disease

Chapter 13: Role of endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria communication in type 2 diabetes

Chapter 14: Mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum contact sites mediate innate immune responses

Chapter 15: Hepatitis C Virus Replication

Chapter 16: Hijacking of Membrane Contact Sites by Intracellular Bacterial Pathogens

Chapter 17: Alterations in Ca2+ signalling via ER-mitochondria contact site remodelling in cancer