title: Independent signaling of grp78 gene transcription and phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiator factor 2 alpha by the stressed endoplasmic reticulum.
abstract: Perturbation of endoplasmic reticular (ER) function signals increased expression of the gene encoding the ER resident chaperone Grp78/BiP and rapid suppression of translational initiation accompanied by phosphorylation of the alpha-subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF-2). eIF-2 alpha phosphorylation and grp78 mRNA induction were measured in GH3 pituitary cells subjected to varied degrees of ER stress to ascertain whether activation of an eIF-2 alpha kinase is involved in both events. grp78 mRNA was induced at low concentrations of ionomycin and dithiothreitol that did not provoke eIF-2 alpha phosphorylation or inhibition of amino acid incorporation. Mobilization of the bulk of cell-associated Ca2+ and the induction of grp78 mRNA occurred at comparable low concentrations of ionomycin, whereas phosphorylation of eIF-2 alpha and inhibition of protein synthesis required higher ionophore concentrations. Pretreatment for 1 h with cycloheximide suppressed grp78 mRNA induction and eIF-2 alpha phosphorylation in response to either stressor. Prolonged (17 h) cycloheximide blockade increased eIF-2 alpha phosphorylation without inducing grp78 mRNA. Upon release from the blockade, grp78 mRNA was induced and eIF-2 alpha was dephosphorylated. Translational tolerance to ionomycin or dithiothreitol, accompanied by dephosphorylation of eIF-2 alpha, was observed whenever grp78 mRNA was induced. Induction of grp78 mRNA preceded significant eIF-2 alpha phosphorylation during treatment with brefeldin A. It is concluded that signaling of grp78 gene transcription can occur independently of eIF-2 alpha phosphorylation or translational repression and that greater degrees of ER stress are required for eIF-2 alpha phosphorylation than for grp78 mRNA induction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Brostrom
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Prostko
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gmitter
authors.forename: C O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Brostrom
mesh_terms: D020126:Brefeldin A; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D002460:Cell Line; D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000494:pharmacology; D003517:Cyclopentanes / Q000494:pharmacology; D004229:Dithiothreitol / Q000494:pharmacology; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000091342:Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP; D015852:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D015759:Ionomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D018832:Molecular Chaperones / Q000235:genetics*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D003517:Cyclopentanes; D000091342:Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP; D015852:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020126:Brefeldin A; D015759:Ionomycin; D003513:Cycloheximide; D004229:Dithiothreitol