Intracellular communication pathways

Authors

  • Carlos Cardeñas Echevarría Universidad de Málaga Spain
  • Oliver Cuevas Corral Universidad de Málaga Spain

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24310/enbio.17.189.2025.20856

Keywords:

Intracellular transport, Membrane contact sites, Endoplasmic reticulum, Chloroplast, Nucleus, Golgi complex, Biogenesis, Division

Abstract

Intracellular transport is a set of mechanisms that allow the transfer of vesicles, molecules, and organelles within the cells, thereby enabling the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. Cellular transport is divided into two types: diffusion (which does not require energy and allows the transport of molecules over short distances) and directed transport (which requires energy and mediates the transport of molecules over long distances). Within directed transport, we find vesicular transport (the transport of molecules inside structures called vesicles, which are spherical structures composed of a lipid bilayer) and non-vesicular transport. Non- vesicular transport occurs thanks to the action of membrane contact sites (MCS). MCS are structures where two organelles come very close to each other (20-50 nm), however, their membranes do not fuse. These MCS can form between different organelles, but in this review, we will focus on the MCS formed between the endoplasmic reticulum and the chloroplast, and between the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi complex. Additionally, the functions of the MCS in the biogenesis and division of organelles are detailed.

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Published

2025-03-31

How to Cite

Cardeñas Echevarría, C., & Cuevas Corral, O. (2025). Intracellular communication pathways. Encuentros En La Biología, 17(189). https://doi.org/10.24310/enbio.17.189.2025.20856