title: Calcium signaling at ER membrane contact sites.
abstract: Communication between organelles is a necessary consequence of intracellular compartmentalization. Membrane contact sites (MCSs) are regions where the membranes of two organelles come into close apposition allowing exchange of small molecules and ions including Ca²⁺. The ER, the cell's major Ca²⁺ store, forms an extensive and dynamic network of contacts with multiple organelles. Here we review established and emerging roles of ER contacts as platforms for Ca²⁺ exchange and further consider a potential role for Ca²⁺ in the regulation of MCS formation. We additionally discuss the challenges associated with the study of MCS biology and highlight advances in microscopy-based solutions. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: 13th European Symposium on Calcium.
authors: UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK.
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Burgoyne
authors: Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, UCL, London, UK.
authors: Sandip
authors: S
authors: Patel
authors: UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK. Electronic address: e.eden@ucl.ac.uk.
authors: Emily R
authors: ER
authors: Eden
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000502:physiology*; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium
keywords: Ca2+ exchange; Calcium; ER; Membrane contact sites (MCSs)