Phosphorylation status of GRP75 and its impact on MAMs dynamics and function

ER-mitochondrial contact sites, i.e. places of close ER-mitochondrial apposition, or MAMs harbour processes critical for cellular homeostasis. Disruption of these processes contribute to pathologies such as diabetes type II, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. While our understanding of MAMs have been increasing, various aspects remain understudied. For example, MAMs dynamics i.e. how, where and when MAMs are established and uncoupled is not clear and neither do we fully understand how they respond to different phyisological states of the cell. We hypothesize that post-translational modifications, like phosphorylation, are important determinants of MAMs dynamics. In this study, we will investigate how the phosphorylation status of GRP75, a molecular bridge, physically coupling the ER and mitochondria, affects MAMs dynamics and function. This study will increase our understanding of MAMs and its processes and may contribute to the insight in MAMs-related pathologies.

Keywords:GRP75, MAMs, membrane contact sites

Disciplines:Cell signalling, Intracellular compartments and transport, Membrane structure and transport, Cell physiology