Single particle trajectories reveal active endoplasmic reticulum luminal flow

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER), a network of membranous sheets and pipes, supports functions encompassing biogenesis of secretory proteins and delivery of functional solutes throughout the cell1,2. Molecular mobility through the ER network enables these functionalities, but diffusion alone is not sufficient to explain luminal transport across supramicrometre distances. Understanding the ER structure–function relationship is critical in light of mutations in ER morphology-regulating proteins that give rise to neurodegenerative disorders3,4. Here, super-resolution microscopy and analysis of single particle trajectories of ER luminal proteins revealed that the topological organization of the ER correlates with distinct trafficking modes of its luminal content: with a dominant diffusive component in tubular junctions and a fast flow component in tubules. Particle trajectory orientations resolved over time revealed an alternating current of the ER contents, while fast ER super-resolution identified energy-dependent tubule contraction events at specific points as a plausible mechanism for generating active ER luminal flow. The discovery of active flow in the ER has implications for timely ER content distribution throughout the cell, particularly important for cells with extensive ER-containing projections such as neurons. Using super-resolution microscopy, tracking of single particle trajectories of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) luminal proteins traversing tubular ER, and measuring ER dynamics, Holcman et al. show that ER content is propelled by active luminal flow.