Mechanisms governing subcompartmentalization of biological membranes

Abstract

Membranes show a tremendous variety of lipids and proteins operating biochemistry, transport and signalling. The dynamics and the organization of membrane constituents are regulated in space and time to execute precise functions. Our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that shape and govern membrane subcompartmentalization and inter-organelle contact sites still remains limited. Here, we review some reported mechanisms implicated in regulating plant membrane domains including those of plasma membrane, plastids, mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. Finally, we discuss several state-of-the-art methods that allow nowadays researchers to decipher the architecture of these structures at the molecular and atomic level.