Endoplasmic Reticulum Oxidase Research Articles

Role of ERO1-α–mediated stimulation of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor activity in endoplasmic reticulum stress–induced apoptosis

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced apoptosis is involved in many diseases, but the mechanisms linking ER stress to apoptosis are incompletely understood. Based on roles for C/EPB homologous protein (CHOP) and ER calcium release in apoptosis, we hypothesized that apoptosis involves the activation of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3) receptor (IP3R) via CHOP-induced ERO1-alpha (ER oxidase 1 alpha). In ER-stressed cells, ERO1-alpha is induced by CHOP, and small interfering RNA (siRNA) knockdown of ERO1-alpha suppresses apoptosis. IP3-induced calcium release (IICR) is increased during ER stress, and this response is blocked by siRNA-mediated silencing of ERO1-alpha or IP3R1 and by loss-of-function mutations in Ero1a or Chop. Reconstitution of ERO1-alpha in Chop(-/-) macrophages restores ER stress-induced IICR and apoptosis. In vivo, macrophages from wild-type mice but not Chop(-/-) mice have elevated IICR when the animals are challenged with the ER stressor tunicamycin. Macrophages from insulin-resistant ob/ob mice, another model of ER stress, also have elevated IICR. These data shed new light on how the CHOP pathway of apoptosis triggers calcium-dependent apoptosis through an ERO1-alpha-IP3R pathway.

Intracellular catalysis of disulfide bond formation by the human sulfhydryl oxidase, QSOX1

The discovery that the flavoprotein oxidase, Erv2p, provides oxidizing potential for disulfide bond formation in yeast, has led to investigations into the roles of the mammalian homologues of this protein. Mammalian homologues of Erv2p include QSOX (sulfhydryl oxidases) from human lung fibroblasts, guinea-pig endometrial cells and rat seminal vesicles. In the present study we show that, when expressed in mammalian cells, the longer version of human QSOX1 protein (hQSOX1a) is a transmembrane protein localized primarily to the Golgi apparatus. We also present the first evidence showing that hQSOX1a can act in vivo as an oxidase. Overexpression of hQSOX1a suppresses the lethality of a complete deletion of ERO1 (endoplasmic reticulum oxidase 1) in yeast and restores disulfide bond formation, as assayed by the folding of the secretory protein carboxypeptidase Y.

CHOP induces death by promoting protein synthesis and oxidation in the stressed endoplasmic reticulum

Unfolded and malfolded client proteins impose a stress on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), which contributes to cell death in pathophysiological conditions. The transcription factor C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) is activated by ER stress, and CHOP deletion protects against its lethal consequences. We find that CHOP directly activates GADD34, which promotes ER client protein biosynthesis by dephosphorylating phospho-Ser 51 of the alpha-subunit of translation initiation factor 2 (eIF2alpha) in stressed cells. Thus, impaired GADD34 expression reduces client protein load and ER stress in CHOP(-/-) cells exposed to perturbations that impair ER function. CHOP(-/-) and GADD34 mutant cells accumulate less high molecular weight protein complexes in their stressed ER than wild-type cells. Furthermore, mice lacking GADD34-directed eIF2alpha dephosphorylation, like CHOP(-/-) mice, are resistant to renal toxicity of the ER stress-inducing drug tunicamycin. CHOP also activates ERO1alpha, which encodes an ER oxidase. Consequently, the ER of stressed CHOP(-/-) cells is relatively hypo-oxidizing. Pharmacological and genetic manipulations that promote a hypo-oxidizing ER reduce abnormal high molecular weight protein complexes in the stressed ER and protect from the lethal consequences of ER stress. CHOP deletion thus protects cells from ER stress by decreasing ER client protein load and changing redox conditions within the organelle.

Glutathione Is Required to Regulate the Formation of Native Disulfide Bonds within Proteins Entering the Secretory Pathway

The formation of native disulfide bonds is an essential event in the folding and maturation of proteins entering the secretory pathway. For native disulfides to form efficiently an oxidative pathway is required for disulfide bond formation and a reductive pathway is required to ensure isomerization of non-native disulfide bonds. The oxidative pathway involves the oxidation of substrate proteins by PDI, which in turn is oxidized by endoplasmic reticulum oxidase (Ero1). Here we demonstrate that overexpression of Ero1 results in the acceleration of disulfide bond formation and correct protein folding. In contrast, lowering the levels of glutathione within the cell resulted in acceleration of disulfide bond formation but did not lead to correct protein folding. These results demonstrate that lowering the level of glutathione in the cell compromises the reductive pathway and prevents disulfide bond isomerization from occurring efficiently, highlighting the crucial role played by glutathione in native disulfide bond formation within the mammalian endoplasmic reticulum.

Diagnosis and Rectification of Stuck and Sluggish Fermentations

The presence of the HLA-B35 allele has emerged as an important risk factor for the development of isolated pulmonary hypertension in patients with scleroderma, however the mechanisms underlying this association have not been fully elucidated. The goal of our study was to determine the molecular mechanisms that mediate the biological effects of HLA-B35 in endothelial cells (ECs). Our data demonstrate that HLA-B35 expression at physiological levels via adenoviral vector resulted in significantly increased endothelin-1 (ET-1) and a significantly decreased endothelial NO synthase (eNOS), mRNA, and protein levels. Furthermore, HLA-B35 greatly upregulated expression of chaperones, including heat shock proteins (HSPs) HSP70 (HSPA1A and HSPA1B) and HSP40 (DNAJB1 and DNAJB9), suggesting that HLA-B35 induces the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and unfolded protein response in ECs. Examination of selected mediators of the unfolded protein response, including H chain binding protein (BiP; GRP78), C/Ebp homologous protein (CHOP; GADD153), endoplasmic reticulum oxidase, and protein disulfide isomerase has revealed a consistent increase of BiP expression levels. Accordingly, thapsigargin, a known ER stress inducer, stimulated ET-1 mRNA and protein levels in ECs. This study suggests that HLA-B35 could contribute to EC dysfunction via ER stress-mediated induction of ET-1 in patients with pulmonary hypertension.