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Organelle identity and the organization of membrane traffic

Nature Cell Biology volume 6, pages 469–472 (2004)Cite this article

Generating and maintaining features that distinguish one organelle from another is essential for accurate membrane traffic. Recent work has revealed that organelles express 'identity' by the local generation of activated GTP-binding proteins and lipid species. These recruiting determinants are then recognized by cytosolic proteins that facilitate the formation and delivery of vesicles at the correct compartment.

Eukaryotic cells contain a diverse range of organelles, many of which are connected to each other by pathways of membrane traffic. These organelles perform specialized functions that require components to be sequestered from the cytoplasm, and were originally identified as distinct structures on the basis of containing enzymatic activities that were unique to each. For instance, the endoplasmic reticulum contains the translocation machinery, chaperones and modification enzymes that fold and assemble newly synthesized secreted and membrane proteins. In contrast, lysosomes contain digestive enzymes that bring the cellular existence of these proteins to a close. Such activities define the functional identity of each organelle, and reflect the presence of particular sets of both soluble proteins in the organelle lumen and membrane proteins integral to the organelle bilayer.

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Figure 1: Mechanisms for targeting small GTP-binding proteins to specific organelles.

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  1. the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 2QH, UK

    Sean Munro

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Munro, S. Organelle identity and the organization of membrane traffic. Nat Cell Biol 6, 469–472 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb0604-469

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