Biology

Prof. Raghu Padinjat
National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore, India

Abstract:

Interorganelle communication by positioning organelles in close proximity (but without fusion) is proposed to occur at Membrane Contact Sites (MCS). MCS are thought to aid in major cellular functions but the molecular machinery required to support their structure, function and regulation remains debated. A key function proposed for MCS is the regulated exchange of lipids between membranes. While such lipid exchange has been shown in a number of cultured cell types, the role of MCS dependent exchange to support physiology in vivo is limited. The Drosophila photoreceptor has been an influential model to study MCS and to identify novel regulators of lipid exchange at ER-PM contact sites. In the present study, we have used this model system to analyse the in vivo cellular functions of the single, ubiquitously expressed gene that encodes extended synpatotagmin (dEsyt) in Drosophila. We also report the interaction of  dEsyt with the Drosophila  Lipid Transfer Protein RDGB that is required to maintain the lipid homeostasis between the plasma membrane and endoplasmic reticulum during  phototransduction.