Membrane Contact Sites as Organelle Platforms in Cell Health and Disease

Membrane contact sites (MCSs) are specialized regions where organelles are in close proximity without fusing, to enable the exchange of lipids, metabolites, and ions. These interfaces can be transient in nature and play critical roles in coordinating cellular metabolism, calcium homeostasis, and stress responses, positioning them as central regulators of cell physiology. A growing body of evidence has revealed that the MCSs shape the identity and function of several organelles including the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), mitochondria, lysosomes, endosomes, peroxisomes, the Golgi apparatus, lipid droplets, and plasma membrane. Disruption of these connections has been implicated in diverse pathologies, including neurodegeneration, cancer and metabolic disorders.This Research Topic aims to gather original research and reviews that advance our understanding of how MCSs form, function, and contribute to cellular adaptation, homeostasis, membrane trafficking, organelle dynamics, and disease. We welcome multidisciplinary contributions employing cell biology, imaging, biochemistry, structural biology, and systems approaches to elucidate the molecular basis and physiological impact of organelle contacts. Areas to be covered may include, but are not limited to:• Molecular and structural mechanisms driving MCSs formation and regulation• Functional roles of specific organelle contact sites (e.g., ER-mitochondria, ER-lysosome, ER-peroxisome, ER-endosome, ER-plasma membrane, Golgi-lipid droplets)• Lipid and calcium exchange processes mediated by MCSs• Crosstalk between MCSs and signalling, metabolic, or quality control pathways• MCSs remodelling during cellular stress, differentiation, or disease progression• Advances in imaging and experimental systems for probing inter-organelle communication Topic editors: Dhanak Gupta, Maria Clara Zanellati Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/82059/membrane-contact-sites-as-organelle-platforms-in-cell-health-and-disease