The universal model of ER-Golgi interface organization explored from plant cells

Abstract

In the secretory pathway of eukaryotic cells, cargo proteins and lipids are transported first to the Golgi apparatus after leaving the ER. The morphology and spatial-temporal dynamics of the compartments that are involved in this transport step at the ER-Golgi interface looks greatly variable depending on species or cell types because of the difference of the Golgi structure. However, comparison of the data derived from plants with those from the other organisms highlights a compartment that has the shared nature and roles among eukaryotes in spite of the difference in its morphological appearance. In this review, I will introduce the knowledge about the membranous compartments that function at the ER-Golgi interface in plant cells and discuss about the difference and common points compared to the other species.