Secretory and membrane proteins are synthesized in ribosomes, then mature in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), but if ER function is impaired, immature defective proteins accumulate in the ER. This ...situation is called ER stress: in response, a defensive mechanism called the unfolded protein response (UPR) is activated in cells to reduce the defective proteins. During the UPR, the ER transmembrane sensor molecules inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1), activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6), and RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR)-like ER kinase (PERK) are activated, stress signals are transduced to the outside of the ER, and various cell responses, including gene induction, occur. In ER-associated degradation (ERAD), one type of UPR, defective proteins are eventually expelled from the ER and degraded in the cytoplasm through the ubiquitin proteasome system. Since ER stress has been reported to have relationships with neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, metabolic syndromes, and cancer, it is the focus of increased attention from the perspectives of elucidating pathogenic mechanisms, and in the development of therapeutics.
The function of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) can be impaired by changes to the extra- and intracellular environment, such as disruption of calcium homeostasis, expression of mutated proteins, and ...oxidative stress. In response to disruptions to ER homeostasis, eukaryotic cells activate canonical branches of signal transduction cascades, collectively termed the unfolded protein response (UPR). The UPR functions to remove or recover the activity of misfolded proteins that accumulated in the ER and to avoid irreversible cellular damage. Additionally, the UPR plays unique physiological roles in the regulation of diverse cellular events, including cell differentiation and development and lipid biosynthesis. Recent studies have shown that these important cellular events are also regulated by contact and communication among organelles. These reports suggest strong involvement among the UPR, organelle communication, and regulation of cellular homeostasis. However, the precise mechanisms for the formation of contact sites and the regulation of ER dynamics by the UPR remain unresolved. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of how the UPR regulates morphological changes to the ER and the formation of contact sites between the ER and other organelles. We also review how UPR-dependent connections between the ER and other organelles affect cellular and physiological functions.
Abstract
The nuclear envelope (NE) separates genomic DNA from the cytoplasm in eukaryotes. The structure of the NE is dynamically altered not only in mitotic disassembly and reassembly but also ...during interphase. Recent studies have shown that the NE is frequently damaged by various cellular stresses that degenerate NE components and/or disrupt their functional interactions. These stresses are referred to as ‘NE stress’. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that NE stress potentially causes severe cellular dysfunctions, such as cell death and genome instability. In this review, the concept of NE stress, the processes repairing damage of the NE caused by NE stress, and the molecular mechanisms by which NE stress contributes to disease pathogenesis are introduced.
Graphical Abstract
Graphical Abstract
Mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPS II) results from the dysfunction of a lysosomal enzyme, iduronate-2-sulfatase (IDS). Dysfunction of IDS triggers the lysosomal accumulation of its substrates, ...glycosaminoglycans, leading to mental retardation and systemic symptoms including skeletal deformities and valvular heart disease. Most patients with severe types of MPS II die before the age of 20. The administration of recombinant IDS and transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells are performed as therapies for MPS II. However, these therapies either cannot improve functions of the central nervous system or cause severe side effects, respectively. To date, 729 pathogenetic variants in the
gene have been reported. Most of these potentially cause misfolding of the encoded IDS protein. The misfolded IDS mutants accumulate in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), followed by degradation via ER-associated degradation (ERAD). Inhibition of the ERAD pathway or refolding of IDS mutants by a molecular chaperone enables recovery of the lysosomal localization and enzyme activity of IDS mutants. In this review, we explain the IDS structure and mechanism of activation, and current findings about the mechanism of degradation-dependent loss of function caused by pathogenetic IDS mutation. We also provide a potential therapeutic approach for MPS II based on this loss-of-function mechanism.
Ubiquitylation plays multiple roles not only in proteasome-mediated protein degradation but also in various other cellular processes including DNA repair, signal transduction, and endocytosis. ...Ubiquitylation is mediated by ubiquitin ligases, which are predicted to be encoded by more than 600 genes in humans. RING finger (RNF) proteins form the majority of these ubiquitin ligases. It has also been predicted that there are 49 RNF proteins containing transmembrane regions in humans, several of which are specifically localized to membrane compartments in the secretory and endocytic pathways. Of these,
,
,
, and
are closely related genes with high homology. These genes share a unique common feature of exhibiting tissue-specific expression patterns, such as in the kidney, nervous system, and colon. The products of these genes are also reported to be involved in various diseases such as cancers, inflammatory bowel disease, Alzheimer's disease, and chronic kidney disease, and in various biological functions such as apoptosis, endoplasmic reticulum stress, osmotic stress, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and Notch signaling. This review summarizes the current knowledge of these tissue-specific ubiquitin ligases, focusing on their physiological roles and significance in diseases.
The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) plays a pivotal role in maintaining cellular homeostasis. However, numerous environmental and genetic factors give rise to ER stress by inducing an accumulation of ...unfolded proteins. Under ER stress conditions, cells initiate the unfolded protein response (UPR). Here, we demonstrate a novel aspect of the UPR by electron microscopy and immunostaining analyses, whereby multivesicular body (MVB) formation was enhanced after ER stress. This MVB formation was influenced by inhibition of ER stress transducers inositol required enzyme 1 (IRE1) and PKR-like ER kinase (PERK). Furthermore, exosome release was also increased during ER stress. However, in IRE1 or PERK deficient cells, exosome release was not upregulated, indicating that IRE1- and PERK-mediated pathways are involved in ER stress-dependent exosome release.
•Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress induces multivesicular body (MVB) formation.•ER stress transducers IRE1 and PERK mediate MVB formation.•Exosome release is enhanced after ER stress.•IRE1 or PERK deficiency blocks upregulation of ER stress-dependent exosome release.
The nuclear envelope (NE) separates genomic DNA from the cytoplasm and provides the molecular platforms for nucleocytoplasmic transport, higher-order chromatin organization, and physical links ...between the nucleus and cytoskeleton. Recent studies have shown that the NE is often damaged by various stresses termed “NE stress”, leading to critical cellular dysfunction. Accumulating evidence has revealed the crucial roles of NE stress in the pathology of a broad spectrum of diseases. In the central nervous system (CNS), NE dysfunction impairs neural development and is associated with several neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease and autosomal dominant leukodystrophy. In this review, the structure and functions of the NE are summarized, and the concepts of NE stress and NE stress responses are introduced. Additionally, the significant roles of the NE in the development of CNS and the mechanistic connections between NE stress and neurological disorders are described.
The protein folding capabilities in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) are disturbed by alternations in the cellular homeostasis such as the disruption of calcium ion homeostasis, the expression of ...mutated proteins and oxidative stress. In response to these ER dysfunctions, eukaryotic cells activate canonical branches of signal transduction cascades to restore the protein folding capacity and avoid irreversible damages, collectively termed the unfolded protein response (UPR). Prolonged ER dysfunctions and the downregulation of UPR signaling pathways have been accepted as a crucial trigger for the pathogenesis of various neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, recent studies have revealed that the UPR has a wide spectrum of signaling pathways for unique physiological roles in the diverse developmental, differential and lipidomic processes. A developed and intricate ER network exists in the neurites of neurons. Neuronal ER functions and ER-derived signaling mediate efficient communication between cell soma and distal sites through local protein synthesis, sorting and lipogenesis. However, relevant of ER-derived UPR signaling pathways in the elaborate mechanisms regulating neuronal activities, synaptic functions and protective responses against injury is not fully elucidated. In this review, we summarized our current understanding of how the UPR functions provide the appropriate signals for neuronal capabilities. We also reviewed how UPR dysfunctions lead to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, and the possibilities ameliorating their toxic effects by targeting UPR components.
•UPR signaling is activated in response to neuronal activities.•UPR signaling manipulates machineries of axons and dendrites.•Disturbance of UPR signaling leads to neurodegenerative diseases.
Eukaryotic cells can adapt to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) dysfunction by producing diverse signals from the ER to the cytosol or nucleus. These signalling pathways are collectively known as the ...unfolded protein response (UPR). The canonical branches of the UPR are mediated by three ER membrane-bound proteins: PERK, IRE1 and ATF6. These ER stress transducers basically play important roles in cell survival after ER stress. Recently, novel types of ER stress transducers that share a region of high sequence similarity with ATF6 have been identified. They have a transmembrane domain, which allows them to associate with the ER, and possess a transcription-activation domain and a bZIP domain. These membrane-bound bZIP transcription factors include Luman, OASIS, BBF2H7, CREBH and CREB4. Despite their structural similarities with ATF6, differences in activating stimuli, tissue distribution and response element binding indicate specialized functions of each member on regulating the UPR in specific organs and tissues. Here, we summarize our current understanding of the biochemical characteristics and physiological functions of the ER-resident bZIP transcription factors.
Unfolded protein response (UPR) has roles not only in resolving the accumulation of unfolded proteins owing to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, but also in regulation of cellular physiological ...functions. ER stress transducers providing the branches of UPR signaling are known to localize in distal dendritic ER of neurons. These reports suggest that local activation of UPR branches may produce integrated outputs for distant communication, and allow regulation of local events in highly polarized neurons. Here, we demonstrated that synaptic activity‐ and brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)‐dependent local activation of UPR signaling could be associated with dendritic functions through retrograde signal propagation by using murine neuroblastoma cell line, Neuro‐2A and primary cultured hippocampal neurons derived from postnatal day 0 litter C57BL/6 mice. ER stress transducer, inositol‐requiring kinase 1 (IRE1), was activated at postsynapses in response to excitatory synaptic activation. Activated dendritic IRE1 accelerated accumulation of the downstream transcription factor, x‐box‐binding protein 1 (XBP1), in the nucleus. Interestingly, excitatory synaptic activation‐dependent up‐regulation of XBP1 directly facilitated transcriptional activation of BDNF. BDNF in turn drove its own expression via IRE1‐XBP1 pathway in a protein kinase A‐dependent manner. Exogenous treatment with BDNF promoted extension and branching of dendrites through the protein kinase A‐IRE1‐XBP1 cascade. Taken together, our findings indicate novel mechanisms for communication between soma and distal sites of polarized neurons that are coordinated by local activation of IRE1‐XBP1 signaling. Synaptic activity‐ and BDNF‐dependent distinct activation of dendritic IRE1‐XBP1 cascade drives BDNF expression in cell soma and may be involved in dendritic extension.
Cover Image for this issue: doi. 10.1111/jnc.14159.
Unfolded protein response (UPR) plays a key role in resolving the accumulation of unfolded proteins as well as the regulation of cellular physiological functions. The goal of this study was to investigate if synaptic activity‐ and brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)‐dependent local activation of UPR signaling could be associated with dendritic functions through retrograde signal propagation, using primary cultured mouse hippocampal neurons and murine neuroblastoma cell lines. Results revealed dendritic inositol‐requiring kinase 1 (IRE1) phosphorylation at postsynaptic sites by synaptic activation, followed by accumulation of x‐box‐binding protein 1 (XBP1) in the nucleus, resulting in induction of Bdnf expression. BDNF drives its own expression via protein kinase A (PKA)‐dependent activation of dendritic IRE1‐XBP1 signaling. Synaptic activity‐and BDNF‐dependent distinct activation of dendritic IRE1‐XBP1 cascade may comprehensively regulate dendritic extension through BDNF expression.
Cover Image for this issue: doi. 10.1111/jnc.14159.
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