title: Assessing the function of mitochondria-associated ER membranes.
abstract: Mitochondria-associated membranes or MAMs are specific regions within the endoplasmic reticulum in close apposition to mitochondria. These contacts between both organelles are involved in the regulation of several cellular functions such as the import of phosphatidylserine into mitochondria from the ER for decarboxylation to phosphatidylethanolamine, cholesterol esterification, calcium signaling, mitochondrial shape and motility, autophagy, and apoptosis. Recently, MAM alterations have been described to underlie some neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. In this chapter, we describe and discuss some of the methods to isolate and assay this interesting cellular region.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, USA. Electronic address: eag2118@columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Estela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Area-Gomez
mesh_terms: D000101:Acetyl-CoA C-Acetyltransferase / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism*; D021962:Membrane Microdomains / Q000378:metabolism; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D008967:Molecular Biology / Q000379:methods*; D010718:Phosphatidylserines / Q000378:metabolism; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010718:Phosphatidylserines; D010743:Phospholipids; D000101:Acetyl-CoA C-Acetyltransferase
keywords: Cholesterol esters; Endoplasmic reticulum; Lipid raft; Mitochondria; Mitochondria-associated membranes; Phospholipids