title: Mitochondrial lipid trafficking.
abstract: Mitochondria are dynamic organelles surrounded by two membranes with a defined lipid composition. The majority of lipids are synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and transported to the mitochondria, but the synthesis of cardiolipin and phosphatidylethanolamine in the inner membrane of mitochondria highlights their general importance for cellular lipid metabolism. Extensive exchange of lipids and their precursors occurs between the ER and mitochondria as well as between mitochondrial membranes. The recent identification of membrane-tethering complexes and lipid-transfer proteins in mitochondria now provides the first insight into the mechanisms of these transport processes, which are of fundamental importance for mitochondrial activities and cell homeostasis. Here, we summarize the current understanding of lipid trafficking at the mitochondria and discuss emerging models for the mechanisms of lipid transfer.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Genetics, Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging Associated Diseases (CECAD), Center for Molecular Medicine (CMMC), University of Cologne, 50674 Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tatsuta
authors.affiliation: Institute for Genetics, Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging Associated Diseases (CECAD), Center for Molecular Medicine (CMMC), University of Cologne, 50674 Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scharwey
authors.affiliation: Institute for Genetics, Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging Associated Diseases (CECAD), Center for Molecular Medicine (CMMC), University of Cologne, 50674 Cologne, Germany; Max Planck Institute for Biology of Aging, 50931 Cologne, Germany. Electronic address: Thomas.Langer@uni-koeln.de.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Langer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D051336:Mitochondrial Membranes / Q000378:metabolism*; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010743:Phospholipids; C030363:lipid transfer protein
keywords: Ups1/PRELI; lipid-transfer proteins; membrane-contact sites; membrane-tethering complexes; mitochondria; phospholipids