scholarly journals Protein Aggregation in the ER: Calm behind the Storm

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 3337
Author(s):  
Haisen Li ◽  
Shengyi Sun

As one of the largest organelles in eukaryotic cells, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) plays a vital role in the synthesis, folding, and assembly of secretory and membrane proteins. To maintain its homeostasis, the ER is equipped with an elaborate network of protein folding chaperones and multiple quality control pathways whose cooperative actions safeguard the fidelity of protein biogenesis. However, due to genetic abnormalities, the error-prone nature of protein folding and assembly, and/or defects or limited capacities of the protein quality control systems, nascent proteins may become misfolded and fail to exit the ER. If not cleared efficiently, the progressive accumulation of misfolded proteins within the ER may result in the formation of toxic protein aggregates, leading to the so-called “ER storage diseases”. In this review, we first summarize our current understanding of the protein folding and quality control networks in the ER, including chaperones, unfolded protein response (UPR), ER-associated protein degradation (ERAD), and ER-selective autophagy (ER-phagy). We then survey recent research progress on a few ER storage diseases, with a focus on the role of ER quality control in the disease etiology, followed by a discussion on outstanding questions and emerging concepts in the field.

2019 ◽  
Vol 218 (10) ◽  
pp. 3171-3187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhihao Sun ◽  
Jeffrey L. Brodsky

Protein folding is inherently error prone, especially in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Even with an elaborate network of molecular chaperones and protein folding facilitators, misfolding can occur quite frequently. To maintain protein homeostasis, eukaryotes have evolved a series of protein quality-control checkpoints. When secretory pathway quality-control pathways fail, stress response pathways, such as the unfolded protein response (UPR), are induced. In addition, the ER, which is the initial hub of protein biogenesis in the secretory pathway, triages misfolded proteins by delivering substrates to the proteasome or to the lysosome/vacuole through ER-associated degradation (ERAD) or ER-phagy. Some misfolded proteins escape the ER and are instead selected for Golgi quality control. These substrates are targeted for degradation after retrieval to the ER or delivery to the lysosome/vacuole. Here, we discuss how these guardian pathways function, how their activities intersect upon induction of the UPR, and how decisions are made to dispose of misfolded proteins in the secretory pathway.


2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 213-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wolfgang Voos ◽  
Witold Jaworek ◽  
Anne Wilkening ◽  
Michael Bruderek

Mitochondria are essential constituents of a eukaryotic cell by supplying ATP and contributing to many mayor metabolic processes. As endosymbiotic organelles, they represent a cellular subcompartment exhibiting many autonomous functions, most importantly containing a complete endogenous machinery responsible for protein expression, folding and degradation. This article summarizes the biochemical processes and the enzymatic components that are responsible for maintaining mitochondrial protein homoeostasis. As mitochondria lack a large part of the required genetic information, most proteins are synthesized in the cytosol and imported into the organelle. After reaching their destination, polypeptides must fold and assemble into active proteins. Under pathological conditions, mitochondrial proteins become misfolded or damaged and need to be repaired with the help of molecular chaperones or eventually removed by specific proteases. Failure of these protein quality control mechanisms results in loss of mitochondrial function and structural integrity. Recently, novel mechanisms have been identified that support mitochondrial quality on the organellar level. A mitochondrial unfolded protein response allows the adaptation of chaperone and protease activities. Terminally damaged mitochondria may be removed by a variation of autophagy, termed mitophagy. An understanding of the role of protein quality control in mitochondria is highly relevant for many human pathologies, in particular neurodegenerative diseases.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Baptiste Luizet ◽  
Julie Raymond ◽  
Thais Lourdes Santos Lacerda ◽  
Magali Bonici ◽  
Frédérique Lembo ◽  
...  

AbstractPerturbation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) functions can have critical consequences for cellular homeostasis. An elaborate surveillance system known as ER quality control (ERQC) ensures that only correctly assembled proteins reach their destination. Persistence of misfolded or improperly matured proteins upregulates the unfolded protein response (UPR) to cope with stress, activates ER associated degradation (ERAD) for delivery to proteasomes for degradation. We have identified a Brucella abortus type IV secretion system effector called BspL that targets Herp, a key component of ERQC and is able to augment ERAD. Modulation of ERQC by BspL results in tight control of the kinetics of autophagic Brucella-containing vacuole formation, preventing premature bacterial egress from infected cells. This study highlights how bacterial pathogens may hijack ERAD components for fine regulation of their intracellular trafficking.


eLife ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars Plate ◽  
Ryan J Paxman ◽  
R Luke Wiseman ◽  
Jeffery W Kelly

Small molecules that modulate the unfolded protein response have the potential to treat a variety of human protein misfolding diseases.


Author(s):  
Toru Hosoi ◽  
Jun Nomura ◽  
Koichiro Ozawa ◽  
Akinori Nishi ◽  
Yasuyuki Nomura

AbstractThe endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is an organelle that plays a crucial role in protein quality control such as protein folding. Evidence to indicate the involvement of ER in maintaining cellular homeostasis is increasing. However, when cells are exposed to stressful conditions, which perturb ER function, unfolded proteins accumulate leading to ER stress. Cells then activate the unfolded protein response (UPR) to cope with this stressful condition. In the present review, we will discuss and summarize recent advances in research on the basic mechanisms of the UPR. We also discuss the possible involvement of ER stress in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Potential therapeutic opportunities for diseases targeting ER stress is also described.


2014 ◽  
Vol 112 (1) ◽  
pp. 291-296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael C. E. Niemann ◽  
Isabel Bartrina ◽  
Angel Ashikov ◽  
Henriette Weber ◽  
Ondřej Novák ◽  
...  

The formation of glycoconjugates depends on nucleotide sugars, which serve as donor substrates for glycosyltransferases in the lumen of Golgi vesicles and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Import of nucleotide sugars from the cytosol is an important prerequisite for these reactions and is mediated by nucleotide sugar transporters. Here, we report the identification of REPRESSOR OF CYTOKININ DEFICIENCY 1 (ROCK1, At5g65000) as an ER-localized facilitator of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) and UDP-N-acetylgalactosamine (UDP-GalNAc) transport in Arabidopsis thaliana. Mutant alleles of ROCK1 suppress phenotypes inferred by a reduced concentration of the plant hormone cytokinin. This suppression is caused by the loss of activity of cytokinin-degrading enzymes, cytokinin oxidases/dehydrogenases (CKXs). Cytokinin plays an essential role in regulating shoot apical meristem (SAM) activity and shoot architecture. We show that rock1 enhances SAM activity and organ formation rate, demonstrating an important role of ROCK1 in regulating the cytokinin signal in the meristematic cells through modulating activity of CKX proteins. Intriguingly, genetic and molecular analysis indicated that N-glycosylation of CKX1 was not affected by the lack of ROCK1-mediated supply of UDP-GlcNAc. In contrast, we show that CKX1 stability is regulated in a proteasome-dependent manner and that ROCK1 regulates the CKX1 level. The increased unfolded protein response in rock1 plants and suppression of phenotypes caused by the defective brassinosteroid receptor bri1-9 strongly suggest that the ROCK1 activity is an important part of the ER quality control system, which determines the fate of aberrant proteins in the secretory pathway.


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