Work

Protocol for the in vivo quantification of mitochondria-associated ER membranes in Caenorhabditis elegans

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Mitochondria-associated membranes (MAMs) are specialized contact sites between the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, with multiple functional aspects. Here, we present a confocal microscopy-based protocol for quantifying the area of MAM-like domains in intestinal cells of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans using organelle-specific fluorescent reporters. We describe steps for worm synchronization, microscope setup, sample preparation, and image acquisition. We then detail procedures for manual single-image analysis and scalable automated batch processing, enabling robust quantification of ER-mitochondria contacts across experimental conditions. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Roussos et al. 1

Source: STAR Protocols

DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2026.104592

Authors: Fivos Borbolis, Konstantinos Palikaras

Institutions: University of Patras, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

Language: English

Topic: Mitochondrial Function and Pathology

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,550

Funder: European Research Council