Sheets, ribbons and tubules - how organelles get their shape.
Most membrane-bound organelles have elaborate, dynamic shapes and often include regions with distinct morphologies. These complex structures are relatively conserved throughout evolution, which indicates that they are important for optimal organelle function. Various mechanisms of determining organelle shape have been proposed - proteins that stabilize highly curved membranes, the tethering of organelles to other cellular components and the regulation of membrane fission and fusion might all contribute.
Voeltz
Gia K
GK
Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA. gia.voeltz@colorado.edu
Prinz
William A
WA
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D053140:Organelle Shape; D015388:Organelles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*
D008565:Membrane Proteins