XBP-1 regulates a subset of endoplasmic reticulum resident chaperone genes in the unfolded protein response.
The mammalian unfolded protein response (UPR) protects the cell against the stress of misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). We have investigated here the contribution of the UPR transcription factors XBP-1, ATF6alpha, and ATF6beta to UPR target gene expression. Gene profiling of cell lines lacking these factors yielded several XBP-1-dependent UPR target genes, all of which appear to act in the ER. These included the DnaJ/Hsp40-like genes, p58(IPK), ERdj4, and HEDJ, as well as EDEM, protein disulfide isomerase-P5, and ribosome-associated membrane protein 4 (RAMP4), whereas expression of BiP was only modestly dependent on XBP-1. Surprisingly, given previous reports that enforced expression of ATF6alpha induced a subset of UPR target genes, cells deficient in ATF6alpha, ATF6beta, or both had minimal defects in upregulating UPR target genes by gene profiling analysis, suggesting the presence of compensatory mechanism(s) for ATF6 in the UPR. Since cells lacking both XBP-1 and ATF6alpha had significantly impaired induction of select UPR target genes and ERSE reporter activation, XBP-1 and ATF6alpha may serve partially redundant functions. No UPR target genes that required ATF6beta were identified, nor, in contrast to XBP-1 and ATF6alpha, did the activity of the UPRE or ERSE promoters require ATF6beta, suggesting a minor role for it during the UPR. Collectively, these results suggest that the IRE1/XBP-1 pathway is required for efficient protein folding, maturation, and degradation in the ER and imply the existence of subsets of UPR target genes as defined by their dependence on XBP-1. Further, our observations suggest the existence of additional, as-yet-unknown, key regulators of the UPR.
Lee
Ann-Hwee
AH
Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Iwakoshi
Neal N
NN
Glimcher
Laurie H
LH
D051702:Activating Transcription Factor 6; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000378:metabolism*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D050956:HSP40 Heat-Shock Proteins; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018832:Molecular Chaperones / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D017510:Protein Folding; D000071701:Regulatory Factor X Transcription Factors; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071717:X-Box Binding Protein 1
C497111:ATF6 protein, human; D051702:Activating Transcription Factor 6; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C494647:DNAJB1 protein, human; C494648:DNAJB11 protein, human; C478021:DNAJB9 protein, human; C494651:DNAJC3 protein, human; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D050956:HSP40 Heat-Shock Proteins; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D000071701:Regulatory Factor X Transcription Factors; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000071717:X-Box Binding Protein 1; C000605543:XBP1 protein, human