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Review
. 2018 Dec 21;8(1):5.
doi: 10.3390/cells8010005.

Perspective: Mitochondria-ER Contacts in Metabolic Cellular Stress Assessed by Microscopy

Alessandra Stacchiotti  1   2   3 , Gaia Favero  4 , Antonio Lavazza  5 , Raquel Garcia-Gomez  6 , Maria Monsalve  7 , Rita Rezzani  8   9
Affiliations
Review

Perspective: Mitochondria-ER Contacts in Metabolic Cellular Stress Assessed by Microscopy

Alessandra Stacchiotti et al. Cells. .

Abstract

The interplay of mitochondria with the endoplasmic reticulum and their connections, called mitochondria-ER contacts (MERCs) or mitochondria-associated ER membranes (MAMs), are crucial hubs in cellular stress. These sites are essential for the passage of calcium ions, reactive oxygen species delivery, the sorting of lipids in whole-body metabolism. In this perspective article, we focus on microscopic evidences of the pivotal role of MERCs/MAMs and their changes in metabolic diseases, like obesity, diabetes, and neurodegeneration.

Keywords: MAMs; MERCs; endoplasmic reticulum; microscopy; mitochondria; neurodegenerative diseases; obesity.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes (MAMs) ultrastructure in adult mice liver changed with nutrition. (A) C57BL6/J mice liver fed a maintenance diet; (B) leptin-deficient obese mice presented abnormal endoplasmic reticulum (ER) cisternae and narrowing of contacts; (C) repeated starved C57BL6/J mice showed regular distance and elongated mitochondria; (D) repeated starved sirtuin 1 heterozygous mice presented close ER-mitochondria contact and swollen cisternae. (ER): Endoplasmic reticulum; arrows identify MAM narrowing. Scale bar: A, B, D 500 nm; C 1 µm.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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