The atlastin paralogs: The complexity in the tails

Krishna and Ford discuss recent insights into how atlastins, required for homotypic fusion of ER tubules, are regulated and coordinated. Atlastins are mechanochemical GTPases that catalyze homotypic fusion of ER tubules. Recent work has demonstrated that tethering and fusion by the three mammalian atlastin paralogs are differentially regulated by their variable N- and C-terminal extensions. These new findings have profound implications for atlastin-mediated homeostasis of the tubular ER network.

Automated summary

Krishna and Ford discuss recent insights into the regulation and coordination of atlastins, which are necessary for the fusion of homotypic ER tubules. New research has revealed that the tethering and fusion of the three mammalian atlastin paralogs are regulated differently due to their variable N- and C-terminal extensions. These findings have significant implications for maintaining the homeostasis of the tubular ER network through atlastin-mediated processes.