Spang Lab

Ca2+ and DRP1 drive endocytic lysosome reformation at tripartite contact sites Lysosomes are essential in maintaining cellular health. Endocytic lysosome reformation (ELR) regenerates functional lysosomes following degradation of endocytic cargo, yet the mechanisms driving this process remain largely unknown. Here, we define the molecular machinery underlying ELR. We find that unlike autophagic lysosome reformation (ALR), ELR proceeds independently of mTOR and dynamin 2, but requires the mitochondrial fission GTPase DRP1. DRP1 mediates scission of endolysosomal tubules at contact sites with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria. Disruption of DRP1 function or ER endolysosome contact results in elongated tubules, indicating defective lysosome reformation. Moreover, mitochondrial activity is essential for tubule initiation, and Ca2+ transfer from endolysosomes to mitochondria is crucial for ELR onset. Our findings reveal a dual role for mitochondria in ELR: first in ELR initiation and second in DRP1-dependent tubule fission at ER-mitochondria-endolysosome tripartite contact sites, uncovering the previously unappreciated role of mitochondria in endolysosome remodeling and fission. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. Swiss National Science Foundation, 320030-231859, 310030-197779 University of Basel, https://ror.org/02s6k3f65

Check out our newest findings on how #lysosomes are generated from #endolysosomes. Great work from @samit2104.bsky.social ! @biozentrum.unibas.ch , @unibas.ch #cellbio #cell #organelles
Ca2+ and DRP1 drive endocytic lysosome reformation at tripartite contact sites www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

30.01.2026 17:59 — 👍 25    🔁 11    💬 1    📌 1

Exciting preprint from @franbottanelli.bsky.social and @annespang.bsky.social! ARF-1 regulates FERARI-mediated endosomal kiss-and-run recycling by controlling selective cargo loading into vesicles.
ARF-1 Coordinates Cargo Sorting at FERARI Endosomal Recycling Hubs
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

13.01.2026 19:46 — 👍 16    🔁 6    💬 0    📌 1

Happy that we could contribute to this exciting paper from the @spanglab.bsky.social!

13.01.2026 20:30 — 👍 23    🔁 6    💬 0    📌 0

Bacterial RNA promotes proteostasis through inter-tissue communication in C. elegans Nature Communications - Kyriakakis et al. show that bacterial RNA can improve C. elegans healthspan and reduce toxic protein aggregation in muscles. This depends on inter-tissue communication and...

A little stress is good for you in #health #ageing ! #Diet is important! Take a look at our article with Emmanouil Kyriakakis as 1st author!
@unibas.ch
@natcomms.nature.com
@snsf.ch
#Longevity #healthspan
rdcu.be/eI1vZ

01.10.2025 17:14 — 👍 4    🔁 2    💬 0    📌 0

We are thankful to our collaborators from the @spanglab.bsky.social and @maierlab.bsky.social @biozentrum.unibas.ch @unibas.ch

11.08.2025 09:10 — 👍 3    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0

It was our great pleasure to be part of this exciting project!

15.08.2025 09:15 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

A CRISPR/Cas9 screen reveals proteins at the endosome-Golgi interface that modulate cellular anti-sense oligonucleotide activity Nature Communications - Antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) cellular activity requires endosomal escape. Here, the authors show that disrupting Golgi-endosome protein AP1M1 enhances ASO activity by...

Great collaboration with Liza Malong and Filip Roudnicky from pRED @Roche rdcu.be/et6Nw

30.06.2025 15:30 — 👍 6    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0

Anne Spang awarded distinction of AAAS Fellow The AAAS has elected Prof. Anne Spang at the Biozentrum, University of Basel, as a Fellow. With this honor, the world’s largest scientific society recognizes her outstanding contributions to the field...

Congratulations to Anne Spang @spanglab.bsky.social for being elected as a new #AAASFellow by @aaas.org ! The world’s largest scientific society recognizes her outstanding contributions to the field of cell #biology and #biochemistry. @unibas.ch
www.biozentrum.unibas.ch/news/detail/...

28.03.2025 08:17 — 👍 43    🔁 9    💬 0    📌 1

We got the cover!!! Check out our new story in EMBO J. #endosomes #c.elegans #membranes #GTPases

17.03.2025 15:18 — 👍 14    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0

Awesome lab outing: snow shoeing and sledding! Thank you for being such a wonderful team!

28.02.2025 09:42 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Coordination between ESCRT function and Rab conversion during endosome maturation | The EMBO Journal imageimageEarly endosome maturation requires Rab conversion and ESCRT function; however, how these processes are coordinated remains largely elusive. This study proposes that Rab conversion in both C....

Interested how events are coordinated during #endosome maturation? Check out our latest paper! Congrats Daniel, Samit and Jachen!
www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....

05.02.2025 15:53 — 👍 17    🔁 9    💬 0    📌 1

So let’s do some super science together!!

14.01.2025 16:43 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

I feel humble and honored to receive the Lelio Orci Award 2024. I want to thank my amazing co-workers and trainees who are with me on the pursuit of the understanding how intracellular communication is achieved.

14.01.2025 16:42 — 👍 21    🔁 0    💬 3    📌 1

Me!

26.11.2024 18:02 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0