A grab to move on: ER–endosome contacts in membrane protrusion formation and neurite outgrowth

Abstract

© 2015 The Authors. A key feature of many eukaryotic cells, most prominently seen in developing neurons, is their ability to form and extend membrane protrusions. How protrusion formation is linked to exocytic membrane trafficking is largely unclear. In a recent paper published in Nature, Raiborg et al identify a crucial role in this process for dynamic membrane contact sites (MCSs) between the ER and endosomes. The MCSs are formed by endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-localized protein protrudin and the late endosomal kinesin adaptor FYCO1 and the small GTPase Rab7. ER-localized protrudin and phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate and Rab7 GTPase on late endosomes establish contact sites, to transfer kinesin-1 to the motor adaptor FYCO1, allowing for the movement of late endosomes and thus outgrowth of protrusions and neurites.