Dynamic constriction and fission of ER membranes by reticulon

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a continuous cell-wide membrane network. Network formation has been widely associated with proteins producing membrane curvature and fusion, such as reticulons and atlastin. Regulated network fragmentation, occurring in different physiological contexts, is less understood. We found that the ER network has an embedded fragmentation mechanism based upon the ability of reticulons to produce fission of elongating network branches. In Drosophila, fission is counterbalanced by atlastin-driven fusion, with their imbalance leading to ER fragmentation. Live imaging of ER network dynamics upon ectopic expression of Drosophila reticulon linked fission to augmented membrane friction. Consistently, in vitro analysis revealed that purified reticulon produced velocity-dependent constriction and fission of lipid nanotubes pulled from a flat reservoir membrane. Fission occurred at elongation rates and pulling force ranges intrinsic to the ER network, thus suggesting a novel principle of organelle morphology regulation where the dynamic balance between fusion and fission is governed by membrane motility.