There is a growing appreciation that membrane-bound organelles in eukaryotic cells communicate directly with one another through direct membrane contact sites. Mitochondria-associated membranes are specialized subdomains of the endoplasmic reticulum that function as membrane contact sites between the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria. These sites have emerged as major players in lipid metabolism and @entity460 signaling. More recently also autophagy and mitochondrial dynamics have been found to be regulated at ER-mitochondria contact sites. Neurons critically depend on mitochondria-associated membranes as a means to exchange metabolites and signaling molecules between these organelles. This is underscored by the fact that genes affecting mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis are clearly overrepresented in several @entity14827 . Conversely, the processes affected by the contact sites between the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria are widely implicated in @entity179 . This review will focus on the most recent data addressing the structural composition and function of the mitochondria-associated membranes. In addition, the 3D morphology of the contact sites as observed using volume electron microscopy is discussed. Finally, it will highlight the role of several key proteins associated with these contact sites that are involved not only in @entity303 , @entity746 and @entity191 , but also in axonopathies such as @entity9718 and @entity5108 .

Mitochondria-associated membranes as hubs for XXXX .

@entity9718 :: ('MESH:D015419', 'Disease') :: ['hereditary spastic paraplegia'] @entity5108 :: ('MESH:D002607', 'Disease') :: ['Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease'] @entity303 :: ('MESH:D003704', 'Disease') :: ['dementias'] @entity191 :: ('MESH:D010300', 'Disease') :: ["Parkinson's disease"] @entity179 :: ('MESH:D019636', 'Disease') :: ['neurodegeneration'] @entity460 :: ('MESH:D002118', 'Chemical') :: ['calcium'] @entity746 :: ('MESH:D000690', 'Disease') :: ['amyotrophic lateral sclerosis'] @entity14827 :: ('MESH:D020271', 'Disease') :: ['hereditary neurodegenerative disorders']
@entity179 :: (MESH:D019636,Disease) :: ['neurodegeneration']
