The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria—two essential organelles that serve as the “organs” of the cell—form close physical contacts known as mitochondria–ER contact sites. These contact sites allow the exchange of calcium ions and lipids between the two organelles, enabling them to work in harmony and supporting vital functions in various cell types, including neurons. In this study, the research team discovered that PDZD8, a protein residing on the surface of the ER and implicated in autism, binds directly to a protein on the mitochondrial outer membrane, FKBP8, effectively bringing the two organelles into close proximity (Fig. 1). This breakthrough advances our understanding of inter-organelle communication and opens new avenues for developing therapies for conditions such as autism.
Fig. 1
Papers
Journal: Nature Communications
Title: Mitochondrial complexity is regulated at ER-mitochondria contact sites via PDZD8-FKBP8 tethering
Authors: Koki Nakamura#, Saeko Aoyama-Ishiwatari#, Takahiro Nagao#, Mohammadreza Paaran, Christopher J. Obara, Yui Sakurai-Saito, Jake Johnston, Yudan Du, Shogo Suga, Masafumi Tsuboi, Makoto Nakakido, Kouhei Tsumoto, Yusuke Kishi, Yukiko Gotoh, Chulhwan Kwak, Hyun-Woo Rhee, Jeong Kon Seo, Hidetaka Kosako, Clint Potter, Bridget Carragher, Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz, Franck Polleux & Yusuke Hirabayashi*
(#Co-first author, *Corresponding author)
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58538-3
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