ER-mitochondria contacts: a bridge to healthy ageing?

Mitochondria-ER contact sites (MERCS) represent a crossroad for pathways involved in calcium signalling, mitochondrial bioenergetics, protein homeostasis, response to stress and cell death, among others. Manipulation with the connectivity between ER and mitochondria is coming of age as an experimental tool and as a strategy for the normalization of MERCS functions compromised in disease. Therefore, it may represent a strategy to prolong healthy ageing. In this mini-review, we briefly describe the structure and functions of MERCS and focus on MERCS physical parameters subjected to manipulation; we analyze the effects of the MERCS stabilization in living organisms both in health and disease; finally, we critically assess challenges and potentials of MERCS manipulation for future clinical use.