The compartmentalisation achieved by confining cytoplasm into membrane-enclosed organelles in eukaryotic cells is essential for maintaining vital functions including ATP production, synthetic and degradative pathways. While intracellular organelles are highly specialised in these functions, the restricting membranes also impede exchange of molecules responsible for the synchronised and responsive cellular activities. The initial identification of contact sites between the ER and plasma membrane (PM) provided a potential candidate structure for communication between organelles without mixing by fusion. Over the past decades, research has revealed a far broader picture of the events. Membrane contact sites (MCSs) have been recognized as increasingly important actors in cell differentiation, plasticity and maintenance, and, upon dysfunction, responsible for pathological conditions such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Present in multiple organelles and cell types, MCSs promote transport of lipids and Ca2+ homoeostasis, with a range of associated protein families. Interestingly, each MCS displays a unique molecular signature, adapted to organelle functions. This review will explore the literature describing the molecular components and interactions taking place at ER-PM contact sites, their functions, and implications in eukaryotic cells, particularly neurons, with emphasis on lipid transfer proteins and emerging function of SNAREs.

Inter-organelle communication is essential for the exchange of cellular content in eukaryotes, particularly at membrane contact sites between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the plasma membrane (PM). Accomplishing this critical task requires close positioning of the involved membranes via tether proteins and associated complexes. One such complex involves the SNAREs Sec22b and Syntaxin 1. Discovered to be interacting at the ER-PM membrane contact site (MCS), Sec22b-Stx1 forms a unique non-fusogenic bridge tethering the two membranes. Contrarily, SNAP25 was shown to be absent from the Sec22b-Stx1 complexes. Two recent studies focused on this interplay of SNARES and Lipid transfer proteins at MCSs. The Longin domain of Sec22b appeared to be the reason behind SNAP25’s exclusion from Sec22b-Stx1 assembly, and inclusion of E-Syts. It was also shown that yeast Sec9p and mammalian SNAP25 regulate ER-PM contact sites via their interaction with LTP OSBP-homologous proteins (ORP/OSH). In this following short review, we will take a closer look at the protein complexes involving SNAREs at MCSs and potential regulation by the Longin domain of Sec22b.