The Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) is a crucial, evolutionarily conserved cellular stress signaling pathway activated when an accumulation of misfolded or unfolded proteins occurs within the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). This adaptive response is a survival mechanism designed to restore ER homeostasis by transiently halting general protein translation, increasing the production of ER-resident chaperone proteins, and enhancing ER-associated protein degradation. Persistent or overwhelming ER stress, however, can shift the UPR from an adaptive state to a pro-apoptotic pathway, contributing to various metabolic and degenerative diseases.
Origin
The term and the underlying cellular mechanism were elucidated through molecular biology research focused on protein synthesis and quality control within the cell’s secretory pathway. It is a fundamental concept in cell physiology and pathology, providing a framework for understanding how cells cope with environmental and genetic stressors that compromise protein folding capacity.
Mechanism
The UPR is mediated by three main ER-resident transmembrane sensors: IRE1, PERK, and ATF6. Upon activation by misfolded proteins, these sensors initiate distinct signaling cascades that collectively attempt to reduce the protein folding load and increase the ER’s folding capacity. For example, PERK activation leads to the phosphorylation of eIF2α, which globally suppresses protein synthesis while selectively enhancing the translation of specific stress-response genes, thereby attempting to resolve the protein folding crisis.
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