Unfolded protein response:: its role in physiology and physiopathology

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the first compartment in the secretary pathway. In the ER, proteins fold into their native configuration and are modified by post-translational modifications. Perturbations that alter ER homeostasis therefore disrupt folding and lead to the accumulation of unfolded proteins. These perturbations include modifications of Ca2+ homeostasis, increased demand for protein folding due to elevated synthesis of proteins in specialized cells or expression of a mutant misfolded protein. To limit accumulation of unfolded proteins, the cells have developed a specialized pathway: the unfolded protein response (UPR). UPR involves the activation of three transmembrane proteins of the ER: the PKR-like ER protein kinase (PERK), the activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6) and the inositol requiring enzyme 1 (IRE-1). The activation of all three components of the UPR depends on the dissociation of the luminal chaperone BiP/GRP78 from the luminal part of these proteins. Once activated, these pathways down-regulate protein synthesis through the phosphorylation of eiF2 (eucaryotic translation initiation factor 2) and up-regulate the transcription of genes which encode ER chaperones, protein folding enzymes and components of the ER-associated degradation system (ERAD). Growing evidences indicate that UPR signaling plays critical roles in nutrient sensing, differentiation of secretary cells such as pancreatic beta cell and antibody producing plasma cells, glucose homeostasis and in the development of pathologies linked to accumulation of aggregated proteins.