Calcium signaling at ER membrane contact sites

Communication between organelles is a necessary consequence of intracellular compartmentalization. Membrane contact sites (MCSs) are regions where the membranes of two organelles come into close apposition allowing exchange of small molecules and ions including Ca2 +. The ER, the cell's major Ca2 + store, forms an extensive and dynamic network of contacts with multiple organelles. Here we review established and emerging roles of ER contacts as platforms for Ca2 + exchange and further consider a potential role for Ca2 + in the regulation of MCS formation. We additionally discuss the challenges associated with the study of MCS biology and highlight advances in microscopy-based solutions. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: 13th European Symposium on Calcium.