An ER-Mitochondria Tethering Complex Revealed by a Synthetic Biology Screen

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Abstract
Making Connections: Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)–mitochondria connections have been implicated in many physiological processes, including calcium homeostasis, signaling, membrane biogenesis, and apoptosis. Kornmann et al. (p. 477 , published online 25 June; see the Perspective by Wiedemann et al. ) looked for a proteinaceous link between the ER and mitochondria and, using combinations of synthetic biology and classical yeast genetics, found a protein complex that tethers the two organelles. A large-scale genetic interaction map suggests that these ER-mitochondria connections are important for interorganellar phospholipid exchange.