Abstract
The unfolded protein response (UPR) is a transcriptional and translational intracellular signaling pathway activated by the accumulation of unfolded proteins in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). We have used C. elegans as a genetic model system to dissect UPR signaling in a multicellular organism. C. elegans requires ire-1-mediated splicing of xbp-1 mRNA for UPR gene transcription and survival upon ER stress. In addition, ire-1/xbp-1 acts with pek-1, a protein kinase that mediates translation attenuation, in complementary pathways that are essential for worm development and survival. We propose that UPR transcriptional activation by ire-1 as well as translational attenuation by pek-1 maintain ER homeostasis. The results demonstrate that the UPR and ER homeostasis are essential for metazoan development.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 893-903 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Cell |
Volume | 107 |
Issue number | 7 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 28 2001 |
Externally published | Yes |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)