bims-ershed 2022-10-30 papers

Issue of 2022‒10‒30
three papers selected by
Matías Eduardo González Quiroz
Worker’s Hospital

Neuroscience. 2022 Oct 21. pii: S0306-4522(22)00524-3. [Epub ahead of print]

Dual role of IRE1α-XBP1 signaling in neurodegenerative diseases.

Cailin Wang, Yanmin Chang, Jiahui Zhu, Rong Ma, Gang Li.

The prevalence of neurodegenerative disease has increased as an outcome of the aging population, and effective clinical treatments for such diseases are lacking. Endoplasmic reticulum dysfunction has been identified as a causative factor in various neurological disorders. The inositol-requiring enzyme 1α (IRE1α)-X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1) signaling pathway is the most conserved branch of the unfolded protein response, functioning in both physiological and pathological processes. The modulation of IRE1α-XBP1 signaling via genetic manipulation or drug administration has opposite effects in multiple disease models of neurodegeneration, indicating the complex and heterogeneous role of IRE1α-XBP1 signaling among neurodegenerative diseases and even at different stages within the same disease. Herein, we focus on the multifaceted nature of IRE1α-XBP1 signaling and provide a detailed overview of the latest findings regarding its biological relevance in brain physiology and neurodegenerative disease pathobiology. Moreover, the possible pharmacological targets in the IRE1α-XBP1 axis are discussed.

Keywords: IRE1α; XBP1; autophagy; calcium; neurodegeneration; neuroinflammation; unfolded protein response

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.10.014

Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Oct 12. pii: 12130. [Epub ahead of print]23(20):

Diverse Sphingolipid Species Harbor Different Effects on Ire1 Clustering.

Mark A Bieniawski, Kofi L P Stevens, Christopher M Witham, Robert F L Steuart, Vytas A Bankaitis, Carl J Mousley.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) function is dedicated to multiple essential processes in eukaryotes, including the processing of secretory proteins and the biogenesis of most membrane lipids. These roles implicate a heavy burden to the organelle, and it is thus prone to fluctuations in the homeostasis of molecules which govern these processes. The unfolded protein response (UPR) is a general ER stress response tasked with maintaining the ER for optimal function, mediated by the master activator Ire1. Ire1 is an ER transmembrane protein that initiates the UPR, forming characteristic oligomers in response to irregularities in luminal protein folding and in the membrane lipid environment. The role of lipids in regulating the UPR remains relatively obscure; however, recent research has revealed a potent role for sphingolipids in its activity. Here, we identify a major role for the oxysterol-binding protein Kes1, whose activity is of consequence to the sphingolipid profile in cells resulting in an inhibition of UPR activity. Using an mCherry-tagged derivative of Ire1, we observe that this occurs due to inhibition of Ire1 to form oligomers. Furthermore, we identify that a sphingolipid presence is required for Ire1 activity, and that specific sphingolipid profiles are of major consequence to Ire1 function. In addition, we highlight cases where Ire1 oligomerization is absent despite an active UPR, revealing a potential mechanism for UPR induction where Ire1 oligomerization is not necessary. This work provides a basis for the role of sphingolipids in controlling the UPR, where their metabolism harbors a crucial role in regulating its onset.

Keywords: Ire1; Kes1; Osh4; sphingolipids; unfolded protein response (UPR)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232012130

Nat Commun. 2022 Oct 25. 13(1): 6331

Termination of the unfolded protein response is guided by ER stress-induced HAC1 mRNA nuclear retention.

Laura Matabishi-Bibi, Drice Challal, Mara Barucco, Domenico Libri, Anna Babour.

Cellular homeostasis is maintained by surveillance mechanisms that intervene at virtually every step of gene expression. In the nucleus, the yeast chromatin remodeler Isw1 holds back maturing mRNA ribonucleoparticles to prevent their untimely export, but whether this activity operates beyond quality control of mRNA biogenesis to regulate gene expression is unknown. Here, we identify the mRNA encoding the central effector of the unfolded protein response (UPR) HAC1, as an Isw1 RNA target. The direct binding of Isw1 to the 3' untranslated region of HAC1 mRNA restricts its nuclear export and is required for accurate UPR abatement. Accordingly, ISW1 inactivation sensitizes cells to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress while its overexpression reduces UPR induction. Our results reveal an unsuspected mechanism, in which binding of ER-stress induced Isw1 to HAC1 mRNA limits its nuclear export, providing a feedback loop that fine-tunes UPR attenuation to guarantee homeostatic adaptation to ER stress.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-34133-8