Work

Bridging the gap between organelles: Membrane contact sites as regulator of endocytic dynamics

Year: 2026

Type: review

Abstract: Endocytosis controls the internalization of molecules, receptors and membrane components, thereby regulating nutrient uptake, signaling and membrane composition. Increasing evidence shows that trafficking of endocytic cargo is coordinated by membrane contact sites (MCSs). Rather than passive bridges, MCSs act as dynamic platforms that organize communication between organelles, integrating metabolic and biochemical signals with spatial precision. Their ability to locally remodel membranes and generate spatially confined signaling domains directly shapes endocytic and endo-lysosomal trafficking. MCSs are also highly adaptive: they remodel in response to extracellular cues such as growth factors and can be exploited by pathogens to create replication-permissive niches, positioning MCSs as central hubs of intracellular organization and communication.

Source: Current Opinion in Cell Biology

DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2026.102641

Authors: Giorgia Miloro, Margherita Caputo, Pier Paolo Di Fiore, Sara Sigismund

Institutions: University of Milan, European Institute of Oncology

Language: English

Topic: Cellular transport and secretion

Subfield: Cell Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,390