酿酒酵母细胞中内质网应激与未折叠蛋白反应的研究进展

内质网应激激活的未折叠蛋白反应(Unfolded protein response,UPR)途径在酿酒酵母和哺乳动物细胞中是非常保守的。内质网(Endoplasmic reticulum,ER)是蛋白质合成、折叠和修饰的细胞器,也是贮存钙的主要场所之一。酵母细胞内质网钙平衡与UPR的作用是相互的;两个MAPK途径——HOG途径和CWI途径都是细胞应答内质网应激压力时生存所必需的;重金属镉离子能够激活UPR途径,它通过激活钙离子通道Cch1/Mid1进入细胞影响钙离子的功能。本文结合最新研究进展对酿酒酵母细胞中的两个MAPK途径、镉离子和钙离子稳态与内质网应激激活的UPR途径之间相互关系进行综述。     

CHOP/GADD153 在内质网应激介导细胞凋亡中的研究进展

内质网(endoplasmic reticulum,ER)广泛存在于真核细胞中,是负责细胞中分泌性蛋白合成和折叠的细胞器。20世纪70年代开始发现了许多干扰内质网功能的因素可直接或间接使内质网中未折叠的蛋白质堆积,使细胞处于应激状态(ER stress),细胞通过未折叠蛋白质反应(unfolded protein response,UPR)来适应内质网应激。未折叠蛋白质反应途径(UPR pathway)是一种信号转导途径,最早在酵母中阐明。近年来对哺乳动物细胞未折叠蛋白质反应途径的研究也获得了重要成果。毒性、缺氧、病毒感染等不良刺激可使细胞内环境的稳态受到破坏,诱发一系列内质网应激反应(ER stress)来维持细胞的正常功能。当细胞受到持续而强烈的刺激时,不能缓解内质网应激状态,细胞会走向凋亡。近年来的研究发现,CHOP/GADD153作为一种前凋亡分子,在内质网应激介导的细胞凋亡中发挥着重要作用,参与肿瘤、阿尔茨海默、糖尿病等诸多疾病的发生和发展过程。     

未折叠蛋白应答与疾病的关系

在Ca2 稳态平衡紊乱、葡萄糖饥饿、错误折叠蛋白质的表达、蛋白质糖基化的抑制或胆固醇合成超载等胁迫条件下,会导致内质网内积累大量的未折叠蛋白质,形成内质网应激(endoplasmic reticulum stress,ERS),对细胞产生根本性的危害。在应激条件下,内质网会产生未折叠蛋白应答(unfolded protein responseUPR),通过改变细胞的转录和翻译过程来缓解内质网应激,维持细胞功能;但是,如果细胞长时间处于UPR条件下,则会诱导细胞凋亡。     

Hsp90抑制剂对未折叠蛋白反应作用的研究进展

肿瘤细胞因癌基因突变、缺氧及营养受限而高度依赖未折叠蛋白反应(unfolded protein response,UPR)。细胞通过内质网(endoplasmic reticulum,ER)膜上3个跨膜蛋白感知未折叠蛋白信号,引起未折叠蛋白反应,动态调控内质网折叠能力,一方面通过暂时减缓翻译和加快蛋白质流出减少ER蛋白质折叠负担,另一方面通过转录因子提高伴侣分子合成,增加ER折叠能力。未折叠的蛋白质长时间积聚在ER会对细胞产生毒性,引起不能缓解的ER应激状态,启动细胞凋亡程序。热休克蛋白90(heat shock protein 90,Hsp90)是一种进化保守的伴侣分子,参与了300多种新生蛋白质的折叠与成熟,其中包括UPR重要信号IRE1α(inositol-requiring enzyme 1α)。Hsp90抑制剂导致细胞产生大量未折叠蛋白质,同时直接诱导IRE1α的降解,从而破坏UPR恢复蛋白质平衡的能力,诱导UPR相关凋亡。目前,Hsp90抑制剂可有效诱导分泌型肿瘤细胞如骨髓瘤以及RAS突变肿瘤UPR途径的凋亡。     

内质网应激介导的细胞凋亡

内质网是细胞内重要的细胞器,内质网功能的损伤引起ER应激(ERS).内质网通过激活未折叠蛋白质反应(UPR)以保护由内质网应激所引起的细胞损伤,恢复细胞功能,包括暂停早期蛋白质合成、内质网分子伴侣和折叠酶的转录激活、内质网相关性降解(ERAD)的诱导.长期过强的内质网应激诱导内质网相关性细胞凋亡,清除受损细胞,包括内质网应激诱导CHOP/GADD153表达、JNK的激活以及caspase-12蛋白水解酶的活化等一系列生物学效应.     

内质网应激中Caspase-12的核心作用

内质网(ER)是细胞中一个重要的细胞器,主要功能是脂质的合成、储存以及蛋白质的折叠、加工等。因此,严格调控和维持内质网稳态是至关重要的。在缺氧、Ca~(2+)稳态发生紊乱或者在机体需求和蛋白质折叠装置能力不平衡等情况下都会引起内质网应激(ERS),此时内质网会启动了细胞的一个适应性反应,这种反应被称之为未折叠蛋白反应(UPR)。结果,定位于内质网的分子伴侣被诱导,蛋白质的合成会减缓,与此同时蛋白质的降解系统也会启动。如果内质网应激不能被缓解,细胞凋亡将随之发生。本综述分析了由内质网应激所引起的未折叠蛋白反应信号通道,以及Caspase-12在内质网凋亡途径中的核心作用。这为细胞凋亡的研究提供了一个新的角度,对肿瘤等疾病的治疗提供了一定的理论依据。     

生命,死亡,未折叠蛋白反应与细胞凋亡

发生在细胞内的未折叠蛋白反应(unfolded protein response,UPR)是对内质网中未折叠蛋白聚积的应答。轻度内质网应激引起未折叠蛋白反应,出现新蛋白合成的暂停,使内质网有时间合成更多的分子伴侣来折叠蛋白质,从而使其功能恢复正常;严重或持续的内质网应激反应将导致细胞凋亡。     

内质网应激与心血管疾病关系的研究进展

内质网是蛋白质折叠、转录后修饰和转运的重要细胞器,对维持细胞稳态具有重要作用。多种内外环境刺激能够引起内质网内错误折叠或未折叠蛋白的积累,即形成内质网应激。内质网应激激活未折叠蛋白反应(unfolded protein response,UPR),进而启动一系列下游信号以维持内质网稳态。但持续或过度的内质网应激激活的UPR最终导致细胞凋亡和疾病。近年来,大量研究证据表明,内质网应激参与多种心血管疾病(cardiovascular disease, CVD)的发生和发展,包括缺血性心脏病、糖尿病性心肌病、心力衰竭、动脉粥样硬化、血管钙化、高血压和主动脉瘤等,是治疗多种CVD的重要靶点。本文就内质网应激激活UPR在多种常见CVD中的调控机制以及内质网应激与CVD关系的研究进展作一简要综述。     

内质网应激反应时IRE1-依赖性XBP1剪接机制

在哺乳动物细胞,X盒结合蛋白1(X-box binding protein 1, XBP1)是一种具有重要作用的蛋白质.哺乳动物细胞中,当未折叠蛋白质在内质网蓄积时会激活一种细胞内信号转导系统,即未折叠蛋白质反应(UPR).哺乳动物细胞定位于内质网膜的IRE1a,可通过二聚化而激活其自身的蛋白激酶及核糖核酸酶活性,从而部分地转导UPR 信号.活化的IRE1a在XBP1 mRNA的两个位点对其进行切割反应,诱导一种非传统剪接反应.这种剪接反应会产生一种功能性XBP1转录因子,可作为内质网应激反应时的传感器.同时,在内质网应激反应时还有另一种转录激活因子6(ATF6)蛋白酶解系统发挥作用.     

非折叠蛋白反应——一条综合的细胞内信号通路

内质网(endoplasmic reticulum,ER)作为细胞中蛋白成熟的场所,可以很敏感的感受细胞内外环境的变化.当ER内环境改变,细胞就会激活信号应对这些改变,并且重新恢复折叠蛋白的环境.内质网的这种改变就是内质网应激(endophsmic reticulum stress,ERS),而对这种应激作出的反应就是非折叠蛋白反应[1](Unfolded Protein Response,UPR ).UPR至少引起了3种不同的信号通路,这些通路不仅调控分泌途径中大部分基因的表达,而且还广泛影响细胞的各个方面包括蛋白质、氨基酸和脂类的代谢.同时,这3务通路可以综合的调控细胞分泌器官的重塑并根据ERS重新调节细胞的生理活性.就UPR相关的感受器及其信号通路作简要的介绍.     

细胞内质网应激与糖脂代谢紊乱的机制关联

在真核细胞中,内质网是蛋白质合成、折叠、加工及其质量监控的重要场所。当内质网难以承担蛋白折叠的高负荷时则引发内质网应激(ER stress),激活细胞的未折叠蛋白响应(unfoldedprotein response,UPR)。细胞通过内质网跨膜蛋白ATF6、PERK和IRE1介导的三条极为关键的UPR信号通路,调控下游相关基因的表达,以增强内质网对蛋白折叠的处理能力。因此,UPR通路在细胞的稳态平衡中具有举足轻重的作用,而这一动态过程的调控对于维持机体的正常生理功能至关重要。近来大量研究表明,在哺乳动物中内质网应激与机体的营养感应和糖脂代谢的调控过程密切相关。在肝脏、脂肪、胰岛以及下丘脑等不同的组织器官中,内质网应激均影响代谢通路的调节机制,因此在糖脂代谢紊乱的发生发展中扮演重要的角色。综上所述,进一步深入了解内质网应激引发代谢异常的生理学机制,可以为肥胖、脂肪肝及2型糖尿病等相关代谢性疾病的防治提供新的潜在药物靶点和重要的理论线索。     

The endoplasmic reticulum and the unfolded protein response

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the site where proteins enter the secretory pathway. Proteins are translocated into the ER lumen in an unfolded state and require protein chaperones and catalysts of protein folding to attain their final appropriate conformation. A sensitive surveillance mechanism exists to prevent misfolded proteins from transiting the secretory pathway and ensures that persistently misfolded proteins are directed towards a degradative pathway. In addition, those processes that prevent accumulation of unfolded proteins in the ER lumen are highly regulated by an intracellular signaling pathway known as the unfolded protein response (UPR). The UPR provides a mechanism by which cells can rapidly adapt to alterations in client protein-folding load in the ER lumen by expanding the capacity for protein folding. In addition, a variety of insults that disrupt protein folding in the ER lumen also activate the UPR. These include changes in intralumenal calcium, altered glycosylation, nutrient deprivation, pathogen infection, expression of folding-defective proteins, and changes in redox status. Persistent protein misfolding initiates apoptotic cascades that are now known to play fundamental roles in the pathogenesis of multiple human diseases including diabetes, atherosclerosis and neurodegenerative diseases.     

TRAM1 is involved in disposal of ER membrane degradation substrates

ER quality control consists of monitoring protein folding and targeting misfolded proteins for proteasomal degradation. ER stress results in an unfolded protein response (UPR) that selectively upregulates proteins involved in protein degradation, ER expansion, and protein folding. Given the efficiency in which misfolded proteins are degraded, there likely exist cellular factors that enhance the export of proteins across the ER membrane. We have reported that translocating chain-associated membrane protein 1 (TRAM1), an ER-resident membrane protein, participates in HCMV US2- and US11-mediated dislocation of MHC class I heavy chains (Oresic, K., Ng, C.L., and Tortorella, D. 2009). Consistent with the hypothesis that TRAM1 is involved in the disposal of misfolded ER proteins, cells lacking TRAM1 experienced a heightened UPR upon acute ER stress, as evidenced by increased activation of unfolded protein response elements (UPRE) and elevated levels of NF-κB activity. We have also extended the involvement of TRAM1 in the selective degradation of misfolded ER membrane proteins Cln6^M241T and US2, but not the soluble degradation substrate α₁-antitrypsin null_HK. These degradation model systems support the paradigm that TRAM1 is a selective factor that can enhance the dislocation of ER membrane proteins.     

Engineering of chaperone systems and of the unfolded protein response

Production of recombinant proteins in mammalian cells is a successful technology that delivers protein pharmaceuticals for therapies and for diagnosis of human disorders. Cost effective production of protein biopharmaceuticals requires extensive optimization through cell and fermentation process engineering at the upstream and chemical engineering of purification processes at the downstream side of the production process. The majority of protein pharmaceuticals are secreted proteins. Accumulating evidence suggests that the folding and processing of these proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a general rate- and yield limiting step for their production. We will summarize our knowledge of protein folding in the ER and of signal transduction pathways activated by accumulation of unfolded proteins in the ER, collectively called the unfolded protein response (UPR). On the basis of this knowledge we will evaluate engineering approaches to increase cell specific productivities through engineering of the ER-resident protein folding machinery and of the UPR.     

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae YFR041C/ERJ5 gene encoding a type I membrane protein with a J domain is required to preserve the folding capacity of the endoplasmic reticulum

YFR041C/ERJ5 was identified in Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a gene regulated by the unfolded protein response pathway (UPR). The open reading frame of the gene has a J domain characteristic of the DnaJ chaperone family of proteins that regulate the activity of Hsp70 chaperones. We determined the expression and topology of Erj5p, a type I membrane protein with a J domain in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) that colocalizes with Kar2p, the major Hsp70 in the yeast ER. We identified synthetic interactions of Deltaerj5 with mutations in genes involved in protein folding in the ER (kar2-159, Deltascj1Deltajem1) and in the induction of the unfolded protein response (Deltaire1). Loss of Erj5p in yeast cells with impaired ER protein folding capacity increased sensitivity to agents that cause ER stress. We identified the ERJ5 mRNA and confirmed that agents that promote accumulation of misfolded proteins in the ER regulate its abundance. We found that loss of the non-essential ERJ5 gene leads to a constitutively induced UPR, indicating that ERJ5 is required for maintenance of an optimal folding environment in the yeast ER.     

Redox signaling loops in the unfolded protein response

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the first compartment of secretory pathway. It plays a major role in ER chaperone-assisted folding and quality control, including post-translational modification such as disulfide bond formation of newly synthesized secretory proteins. Protein folding and assembly takes place in the ER, where redox conditions are distinctively different from the other organelles and are favorable for disulfide formation. These reactions generate the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a byproduct of thiol/disulfide exchange reaction among ER oxidoreductin 1 (Ero1), protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) and ER client proteins, during the formation of disulfide bonds in nascent or incorrectly folded proteins. When uncontrolled, this phenomenon perturbs ER homeostasis, thus aggravating the accumulation of improperly folded or unfolded proteins in this compartment (ER stress). This results in the activation of an adaptive mechanism named the unfolded protein response (UPR). In mammalian cells, the UPR is mediated by three ER-resident membrane proteins (PERK, IRE1 and ATF6) and regulates the expression of the UPR target genes, which themselves encode ER chaperones, folding enzymes, pro-apoptotic proteins and antioxidants, with the objective of restoring ER homeostatic balance. In this review, we will describe redox dependent activation (ER) and amplification (cytosol) loops that control the UPR and the consequences these regulatory loops have on cell fate and physiology.     

Unfolded protein response

In eukaryotic cells, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a membrane-enclosed interconnected organelle responsible for the synthesis, folding, modification, and quality control of numerous secretory and membrane proteins. The processes of protein folding and maturation are highly assisted and scrutinized but are also sensitive to changes in ER homeostasis, such as Ca(2+) depletion, oxidative stress, hypoxia, energy deprivation, metabolic stimulation, altered glycosylation, activation of inflammation, as well as increases in protein synthesis or the expression of misfolded proteins or unassembled protein subunits. Only properly folded proteins can traffic to the Golgi apparatus, whereas those that misfold are directed to ER-associated degradation (ERAD) or to autophagy. The accumulation of unfolded/misfolded proteins in the ER activates signaling events to orchestrate adaptive cellular responses. This unfolded protein response (UPR) increases the ER protein-folding capacity, reduces global protein synthesis, and enhances ERAD of misfolded proteins.