Plasma membrane—endoplasmic reticulum contact sites regulate phosphatidylcholine synthesis |
| |
| Authors: | Shabnam Tavassoli Jesse T Chao Barry P Young Ruud C Cox William A Prinz Anton I P M de Kroon Christopher J R Loewen |
| |
| Institution: | 1. Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, , Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6T 1Z3;2. Department of Membrane Biochemistry and Biophysics, Bijvoet Center and Institute of Biomembranes, Utrecht University, , 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands;3. Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, , Bethesda, Maryland, 20892 USA |
| |
| Abstract: | Synthesis of phospholipids, sterols and sphingolipids is thought to occur at contact sites between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and other organelles because many lipid‐synthesizing enzymes are enriched in these contacts. In only a few cases have the enzymes been localized to contacts in vivo and in no instances have the contacts been demonstrated to be required for enzyme function. Here, we show that plasma membrane (PM)—ER contact sites in yeast are required for phosphatidylcholine synthesis and regulate the activity of the phosphatidylethanolamine N‐methyltransferase enzyme, Opi3. Opi3 activity requires Osh3, which localizes to PM–ER contacts where it might facilitate in trans catalysis by Opi3. Thus, membrane contact sites provide a structural mechanism to regulate lipid synthesis. |
| |
| Keywords: | membrane contact sites phosphatidylcholine synthesis Opi3 Osh3 Pah1 |
|
|
