Protein Response Genes Research Articles

Endoplasmic reticulum-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) is involved in toxicity of cell wall stress to Candida albicans

The cell wall is an important cell structure in both fungi and bacteria, and hence becomes a common antimicrobial target. The cell wall-perturbing agents disrupt synthesis and function of cell wall components, leading to cell wall stress and consequent cell death. However, little is known about the detailed mechanisms by which cell wall stress renders fungal cell death. In this study, we found that ROS scavengers drastically attenuated the antifungal effect of cell wall-perturbing agents to the model fungal pathogen Candida albicans, and these agents caused remarkable ROS accumulation and activation of oxidative stress response (OSR) in this fungus. Interestingly, cell wall stress did not cause mitochondrial dysfunction and elevation of mitochondrial superoxide levels. Furthermore, the iron chelator 2,2′-bipyridyl (BIP) and the hydroxyl radical scavengers could not attenuate cell wall stress-caused growth inhibition and ROS accumulation. However, cell wall stress up-regulated expression of unfold protein response (UPR) genes, enhanced protein secretion and promoted protein folding-related oxidation of Ero1, an important source of ROS production. These results indicated that oxidation of Ero1 in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), rather than mitochondrial electron transport and Fenton reaction, contributed to cell wall stress-related ROS accumulation and consequent growth inhibition. Our findings uncover a novel link between cell wall integrity (CWI), ER function and ROS production in fungal cells, and shed novel light on development of strategies promoting the antifungal efficacy of cell wall-perturbing agents against fungal infections.

Lipid homeostasis is involved in plasma membrane and endoplasmic reticulum stress in Pichia pastoris

Maintaining cellular lipid composition is essential for many cell processes. Our previous study has demonstrated that Spt23 is an important transcription factor within the cell and responsible for the regulation of fatty acid desaturase genes. Disruption of SPT23 results in increased lipid saturation. In the present study, we found that lipid saturation caused by SPT23 deletion exhibited a growth defect under ethanol stress and increased chitin contents. Ergosterol synthesis-related genes were up-regulated to protect cells from plasma membrane damage in the presence of ethanol. The cell wall stress caused by increased chitin contents could not be attenuated by up-regulation of phospholipids synthesis-related genes in spt23Δ. Besides, lipid saturation induced expression of unfolded protein response (UPR) genes and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation followed by activation of the cellular antioxidant system, which is associated with endoplasmic reticulum functions. Taken together, our data suggested that lipid homeostasis has a close connection with cell responses to both plasma membrane stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Sensitivity profile of the human EndoC-βH1 beta cell line to proinflammatory cytokines.

The aim of this study was to perform a detailed analysis of cytokine toxicity in the new human EndoC-βH1 beta cell line. The expression profile of the antioxidative enzymes in the new human EndoC-βH1 beta cells was characterised and compared with that of primary beta cells in the human pancreas. The effects of proinflammatory cytokines on reactive oxygen species formation, insulin secretory responsiveness and apoptosis of EndoC-βH1 beta cells were determined. EndoC-βH1 beta cells were sensitive to the toxic action of proinflammatory cytokines. Glucose-dependent stimulation of insulin secretion and an increase in the ATP/ADP ratio was abolished by proinflammatory cytokines without induction of IL-1β expression. Cytokine-mediated caspase-3 activation was accompanied by reactive oxygen species formation and developed more slowly than in rodent beta cells. Cytokines transiently increased the expression of unfolded protein response genes, without inducing endoplasmic reticulum stress-marker genes. Cytokine-mediated NFκB activation was too weak to induce inducible nitric oxide synthase expression. The resultant lack of nitric oxide generation in EndoC-βH1 cells, in contrast to rodent beta cells, makes these cells dependent on exogenously generated nitric oxide, which is released from infiltrating immune cells in human type 1 diabetes, for full expression of proinflammatory cytokine toxicity. EndoC-βH1 beta cells are characterised by an imbalance between H2O2-generating and -inactivating enzymes, and react to cytokine exposure in a similar manner to primary human beta cells. They are a suitable beta cell surrogate for cytokine-toxicity studies.

The unfolded protein response genes in human osteoarthritic chondrocytes: PERK emerges as a potential therapeutic target.

BackgroundThe unfolded protein response (UPR) is activated following an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the global expression of UPR genes in human OA chondrocytes in induced (I)-UPR conditions, and to explore the regulation and role of the UPR genes in homeostatic (H)-UPR conditions in human normal and OA chondrocytes.MethodsGene expression was determined by PCR array and qPCR. Protein production in cartilage was determined by immunohistochemistry, gene silencing by specific siRNAs, and gene regulation by treating chondrocytes with cytokines and growth factors associated with cartilage pathobiology.ResultsSeveral UPR genes, among them ERN1, PERK, and CREB3L2 were downregulated in OA compared to normal chondrocytes at both the mRNA and protein levels, but the ER stress response triggered by thapsigargin or tunicamycin treatment was similar in normal and OA chondrocytes. The activation of ER stress sensors (phosphorylated PERK, cleavage of ATF6B, and the spliced mRNA forms of XBP1) was not significantly increased in OA chondrocytes/cartilage. PDGF-BB and IL-6 significantly downregulated the expression of ERN1, PERK, and CREB3L2, but not that of ATF6B. Silencing experiments done under conditions of no ER stress (physiological conditions) revealed that decreasing ERN1 expression led to decreased COL2a1, MMP-13, ADAMTS4 and ADAMTS5 expression, while decreasing CREB3L2 and ATF6B led to decreased ADAMTS5 and ADAMTS4 expression, respectively. Importantly, the downregulation of PERK expression increased COL1a1 and suppressed COL2a1 expression.ConclusionsAlthough the level of ER stress is not significantly increased in OA chondrocytes, these cells respond strongly to an acute ER stress despite the decreased expression of ERN1, PERK, and CREB3L2. Emerging findings revealed for the first time that these genes play a role in cartilage biology in conditions where an acute ER stress response is not triggered and OA is not characterized by an overall basal activation of the ER stress response. Importantly, these findings identify PERK as a potential target for new OA treatment avenues.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13075-016-1070-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Plastidial metabolite MEcPP induces a transcriptionally centered stress-response hub via the transcription factor CAMTA3

The general stress response (GSR) is an evolutionarily conserved rapid and transient transcriptional reprograming of genes central for transducing environmental signals into cellular responses, leading to metabolic and physiological readjustments to cope with prevailing conditions. Defining the regulatory components of the GSR will provide crucial insight into the design principles of early stress-response modules and their role in orchestrating master regulators of adaptive responses. Overaccumulation of methylerythritol cyclodiphosphate (MEcPP), a bifunctional chemical entity serving as both a precursor of isoprenoids produced by the plastidial methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway and a stress-specific retrograde signal, in ceh1 (constitutively expressing hydroperoxide lyase1)-mutant plants leads to large-scale transcriptional alterations. Bioinformatic analyses of microarray data in ceh1 plants established the overrepresentation of a stress-responsive cis element and key GSR marker, the rapid stress response element (RSRE), in the promoters of robustly induced genes. ceh1 plants carrying an established 4×RSRE:Luciferase reporter for monitoring the GSR support constitutive activation of the response in this mutant background. Genetics and pharmacological approaches confirmed the specificity of MEcPP in RSRE induction via the transcription factor CALMODULIN-BINDING TRANSCRIPTION ACTIVATOR 3 (CAMTA3), in a calcium-dependent manner. Moreover, CAMTA3-dependent activation of IRE1a (inositol-requiring protein-1) and bZIP60 (basic leucine zipper 60), two RSRE containing unfolded protein-response genes, bridges MEcPP-mediated GSR induction to the potentiation of protein-folding homeostasis in the endoplasmic reticulum. These findings introduce the notion of transcriptional regulation by a key plastidial retrograde signaling metabolite that induces nuclear GSR, thereby offering a window into the role of interorgannellar communication in shaping cellular adaptive responses.

Reproductive aging is associated with changes in oocyte mitochondrial dynamics, function, and mtDNA quantity

Mitochondria affect numerous aspects of mammalian reproduction. We investigated whether the decrease in oocyte quality associated with aging is related to altered mitochondria.Oocytes from old (12 months) and young (9 weeks) C57BL/6J mice were compared in relation to: mitochondria morphology and dynamics (mitochondria density, coverage, size and shape) throughout folliculogenesis; levels of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA); mitochondrial stress reflected in the expression of mitochondrial unfolded protein response (mt-UPR) genes; and levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under baseline conditions and following H2O2 treatment.In old mice, mitochondria of primary follicle-enclosed oocytes were smaller, with lower mitochondria coverage (total mitochondria μm2/μm2 cytosol area) (p<0.05). Other follicular stages showed a similar trend, but the changes were not significant. Mature oocytes (Metaphase II—MII) from old mice had significantly less mtDNA (p<0.01), and elevated mt-UPR gene Hspd1 expression (p<0.05), compared with those from young mice. ROS levels in aged MII oocytes were also higher following pretreatment with H2O2 (p<0.05).Aging is associated with altered mitochondrial morphological parameters and decreased mtDNA levels in oocytes, as well as an increase in ROS under stressful conditions and elevated expression of mitochondrial stress response gene Hspd1. Delineation of the mechanisms underlying mitochondrial changes associated with ageing may help in the development of diagnostic and therapeutic tools in reproductive medicine.

Compression loading-induced stress responses in intervertebral disc cells encapsulated in 3D collagen constructs.

Cells protect themselves from stresses through a cellular stress response. In the interverebral disc, such response was also demonstrated to be induced by various environmental stresses. However, whether compression loading will cause cellular stress response in the nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) is not well studied. By using an in vitro collagen microencapsulation model, we investigated the effect of compression loading on the stress response of NPCs. Cell viability tests, and gene and protein expression experiments were conducted, with primers for the heat shock response (HSR: HSP70, HSF1, HSP27 and HSP90), and unfolded protein response (UPR: GRP78, GRP94, ATF4 and CHOP) genes and an antibody to HSP72. Different gene expression patterns occurred due to loading type throughout experiments. Increasing the loading strain for a short duration did not increase the stress response genes significantly, but over longer durations, HSP70 and HSP27 were upregulated. Longer loading durations also resulted in a continuous upregulation of HSR genes and downregulation of UPR genes, even after load removal. The rate of apoptosis did not increase significantly after loading, suggesting that stress response genes might play a role in cell survival following mechanical stress. These results demonstrate how mechanical stress might induce and control the expression of HSR and UPR genes in NPCs.

Compression Induced Stress Response of Nucleus Pulposus Cells in 3D Collagen Gel

Introduction The cause of degenerative disc disease is multi-factorial and is often associated with mechanical loading. However, mechanism of the cells' response to compressive loading is not fully known. It was demonstrated that in mechanical force can induce chondrocytes to upregulate expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs) as a form of cellular stress response.1 Similarly, stretching annulus fibrosus cells was found to upregulate endoplasmic reticulum stress markers.2 However, it is unclear that whether cells in the intervertebral disc (IVD) would experience compressive force as cellular stress in 3D environment. The objective of this study is to investigate the stress response of nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) during compression in 3D culture environment. Materials and Methods To simulate the condition in the IVD, NPCs were isolated from bovine caudal disc and encapsulated in 3D collagen gel as described previously.3 The culture system was shown to be able to maintain NPCs' phenotype.4 The cell-encapsulated gels were cultured for 4 days and then compressed with different types of loading (static and dynamic loading), different strains (10% - 70%) and different durations (2h - 8h). Samples were retrieved to study the expressions of stress response genes in two groups: Heat Shock Response (HSP70, HSP27, HSP90 and HSF1) and Unfolded Protein Response (GRP78, GRP94, ATF4 and CHOP). Results Encapsulation in 3D collagen gel was found to upregulate HSP70 in NPCs. Compression further induced stress response of NPCs which depended on multiple factors. The upregulation of stress response genes was generally insignificant with increasing loading strain in short duration. However the upregulations increased with longer duration where increasing loading duration has a larger effect in the upregulation of HSP70 and HSP27. When high static strain was applied, the expressions of Heat Shock Response genes were continued to be upregulated with time after the load was removed while Unfolded Protein Response genes were downregulated with incubation duration. The changes in expression with incubation duration show that cellular stress response may play a role in NPC survival and protein homeostasis post-loading. Conclusion The NPCs demonstrated cellular stress response during compression in collagen gel. The expression of stress response genes were mainly affected by loading duration and incubation duration after loading. This study helps us to understand how the NPCs cope with mechanical stress. Acknowledgments This project was funded by TBRS (T12–708/12-N). References Kaarniranta K, Elo M, Sironen R, et al. Hsp70 accumulation in chondrocytic cells exposed to high continuous hydrostatic pressure coincides with mRNA stabilization rather than transcriptional activation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1998;95(5):2319–2324 Zhang YH, Zhao CQ, Jiang LS, Dai LY. Cyclic stretch-induced apoptosis in rat annulus fibrosus cells is mediated in part by endoplasmic reticulum stress through nitric oxide production. Eur Spine J 2011;20(8):1233–1243 Chan BP, Hui TY, Yeung CW, Li J, Mo I, Chan GC. Self-assembled collagen-human mesenchymal stem cell microspheres for regenerative medicine. Biomaterials 2007;28(31):4652–4666 Yuan M, Leong KW, Chan BP. Three-dimensional culture of rabbit nucleus pulposus cells in collagen microspheres. Spine J 2011;11(10):947–960

Unfolded protein response gene GADD34 is overexpressed in rheumatoid arthritis and related to the presence of circulating anti-citrullinated protein antibodies

Growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible gene 34 (GADD34) is an inducible cofactor of protein phosphatase 1, which has an important role in the unfolded protein response. GADD34 has been shown to be necessary for type I interferon and proinflammatory cytokine production in response to viral infection in murine models. We investigate the expression of GADD34 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), in which proinflammatory cytokines have an important pathogenic role. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of GADD34 expression as a biomarker in RA patients. We report a case–control study on GADD34 gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients (n = 75) with RA and age- and sex-matched healthy controls (n = 25). The study was approved by the relevant local ethics committees. GADD34 gene expression level in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was measured by quantitative PCR and analyzed with Mann–Whitney test. The relation between GADD34 gene overexpression and clinical or biological characteristics was analyzed with univariate and multivariate analysis. GADD34 gene expression was significantly higher in RA patients compared with healthy controls (p ≤ 0.001). Interestingly, GADD34 overexpression in PBMC of patients was related to the presence of circulating anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (p = 0.030). Data of this study strengthen the evidence of an unfolded protein response during the course of RA and provide an insight of the potential interest in GADD34 as a relevant marker for RA.

Aminoacyl-Transfer RNA Synthetase Deficiency Promotes Angiogenesis via the Unfolded Protein Response Pathway.

Understanding the mechanisms regulating normal and pathological angiogenesis is of great scientific and clinical interest. In this report, we show that mutations in 2 different aminoacyl-transfer RNA synthetases, threonyl tRNA synthetase (tars(y58)) or isoleucyl tRNA synthetase (iars(y68)), lead to similar increased branching angiogenesis in developing zebrafish. The unfolded protein response pathway is activated by aminoacyl-transfer RNA synthetase deficiencies, and we show that unfolded protein response genes atf4, atf6, and xbp1, as well as the key proangiogenic ligand vascular endothelial growth factor (vegfaa), are all upregulated in tars(y58) and iars(y68) mutants. Finally, we show that the protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase-activating transcription factor 4 arm of the unfolded protein response pathway is necessary for both the elevated vegfaa levels and increased angiogenesis observed in tars(y58) mutants. Our results suggest that endoplasmic reticulum stress acts as a proangiogenic signal via unfolded protein response pathway-dependent upregulation of vegfaa.

Flotillin-1 protein is upregulated in human endometrial cancer and localization shifts from epithelial to stromal with increasing tumor grade

ABSTRACTEndometrial cancer is the most common invasive gynecological malignancy. Flotillin-1 is an integral membrane protein and estrogen responsive gene. Flotillin-1 expression and localization in human endometrial cancers grades 1–3 was investigated using real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Flotillin-1 mRNA levels were unchanged in endometrial cancer versus benign endometrium. Flotillin-1 protein was significantly reduced in the epithelial compartment with increasing tumor grade, although levels increased in the tumor stroma across grades. We have identified a novel factor in human endometrial cancer and observed a shift in epithelial to stromal localization with increasing tumor grade in women.

Plastid-produced interorgannellar stress signal MEcPP potentiates induction of the unfolded protein response in endoplasmic reticulum

Cellular homeostasis in response to internal and external stimuli requires a tightly coordinated interorgannellar communication network. We recently identified methylerythritol cyclodiphosphate (MEcPP) as a novel stress-specific retrograde signaling metabolite that accumulates in response to environmental perturbations to relay information from plastids to the nucleus. We now demonstrate, using a combination of transcriptome and proteome profiling approaches, that mutant plants (ceh1) with high endogenous levels of MEcPP display increased transcript and protein levels for a subset of the core unfolded protein response (UPR) genes. The UPR is an adaptive cellular response conserved throughout eukaryotes to stress conditions that perturb the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis. Our results suggest that MEcPP directly triggers the UPR. Exogenous treatment with MEcPP induces the rapid and transient induction of both the unspliced and spliced forms of the UPR gene bZIP60. Moreover, compared with the parent background (P), ceh1 mutants are less sensitive to the ER-stress-inducing agent tunicamycin (Tm). P and ceh1 plants treated with Tm display similar UPR transcript profiles, suggesting that although MEcPP accumulation causes partial induction of selected UPR genes, full induction is triggered by accumulation of misfolded proteins. This finding refines our perspective of interorgannellar communication by providing a link between a plastidial retrograde signaling molecule and its targeted ensemble of UPR components in ER.

Salicylate-induced changes in immediate-early genes in the hippocampal CA1 area.

Studies have suggested that salicylate affects neuronal function via interactions with specific membrane channels/receptors. However, the effect of salicylate on activity and synaptic morphology of the hippocampal Cornu Ammonis (CA) 1 area remains to be elucidated. The activation of immediate-early genes (IEGs) was reported to correlate with neuronal activity, in particular activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein and early growth response gene 1. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the expression of these IEGs, as well that of N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunit 2B in rats following acute and chronic salicylate treatment. Protein and messenger RNA levels of all three genes were increased in rats following chronic administration of salicylate (300 mg/kg for 10 days), returning to baseline levels 14 days post-cessation of treatment. The transient upregulation of gene expression following treatment was accompanied by ultrastructural alterations in hippocampal CA1 area synapses. An increase in synaptic interface curvature was observed as well as an increased number of presynaptic vesicles; in addition, postsynaptic densities thickened and lengthened. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicated that chronic exposure to salicylate may lead to structural alteration of hippocampal CA1 neurons, and it was suggested that this process occurs through induced expression of IEGs via NMDA receptor activation.

MiR-497∼195 cluster microRNAs regulate osteoblast differentiation by targeting BMP signaling.

MicroRNAs play important roles during cell reprogramming and differentiation. In this study, we identified the miR-497∼195 cluster, a member of the miR-15 family, as strongly upregulated with age of postnatal bone development in vivo and late differentiation stages of primary osteoblasts cultured in vitro. Early expression of miR-195-5p inhibits differentiation and mineralization. Microarray analyses along with quantitative PCR demonstrate that miR-195-5p alters the gene regulatory network of osteoblast differentiation and impairs the induction of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) responsive genes. Applying reporter gene and Western blot assays, we show that miR-195-5p interferes with the BMP/Smad-pathway in a dose-dependent manner. Systematically comparing the changes in mRNA levels in response to miR-195-5p overexpression with the changes observed in the natural course of osteoblast differentiation, we demonstrate that microRNAs of the miR-15 family affect several target genes involved in BMP signaling. Predicted targets including Furin, a protease that cleaves pro-forms, genes encoding receptors such as Acvr2a, Bmp1a, Dies1, and Tgfbr3, molecules within the cascade like Smad5, transcriptional regulators like Ski and Zfp423 as well as Mapk3 and Smurf1 were validated by quantitative PCR. Taken together, our data strongly suggest that miR-497∼195 cluster microRNAs act as intracellular antagonists of BMP signaling in bone cells.

N-Acetylcysteine increases corneal endothelial cell survival in a mouse model of Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy

The present study evaluated survival effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on cultured corneal endothelial cells exposed to oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and in a mouse model of early-onset Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD). Cultured bovine corneal endothelial cell viability against oxidative and ER stress was determined by CellTiter-Glo® luminescent reagent. Two-month-old homozygous knock-in Col8a2L450W/L450W mutant (L450W) and C57/Bl6 wild-type (WT) animals were divided into two groups of 15 mice. Group I received 7 mg/mL NAC in drinking water and Group II received control water for 7 months. Endothelial cell density and morphology were evaluated with confocal microscopy. Antioxidant gene (iNos) and ER stress/unfolded protein response gene (Grp78 and Chop) mRNA levels and protein expression were measured in corneal endothelium by real time PCR and Western blotting. Cell viability of H2O2 and thapsigargin exposed cells pre-treated with NAC was significantly increased compared to untreated controls (p < 0.01). Corneal endothelial cell density (CD) was higher (p = 0.001) and percent polymegathism was lower (p = 0.04) in NAC treated L450W mice than in untreated L450W mice. NAC treated L450W endothelium showed significant upregulation of iNos, whereas Grp78 and Chop were downregulated compared to untreated L450W endothelium by real time PCR and Western blotting. NAC increases survival in cultured corneal endothelial cells exposed against ER and oxidative stress. Systemic NAC ingestion increases corneal endothelial cell survival which is associated with increased antioxidant and decreased ER stress markers in a mouse model of early-onset FECD. Our study presents in vivo evidence of a novel potential medical treatment for FECD.

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Generation of transgenic fibroblasts expressing pancreas-specific and doxycycline-inducible ICER Iγ for the establishment of a porcine model of human diabetes mellitus

Inducible cyclic AMP (cAMP) early repressor (ICER) Iγ acts as an endogenous inhibitor and disrupts the transcriptional regulation of cAMP response element binding protein (CREBP) responsive genes. Since the overexpression of ICER Iγ induces severe diabetes in a transgenic mouse model, with characteristics similar to human diabetes mellitus, an ICER Iγ construct containing an adjustable pancreas tissue specific promoter was utilized in the present study. Using the human insulin promoter region, a doxycycline (dox)‑inducible ICER Iγ expression system was established using the tetracycline (tet)-controlled transactivator (tTA) with a TA response element (TRE) promoter. A unitary tet-on system that combined a tet-on activator cassette was also developed and was controlled by the human insulin promoter with a responder cassette containing genes encoding ICERIγ regulated by the TRE promoter. To determine whether dox-enhanced ICERIγ expression affected insulin production, the unitary tet-on ICERIγ vector was introduced into a mouse pancreatic β-cell line and then the cells were treated with 0.1-1mg/ml dox. The results revealed a robust increase in ICER Iγ expression and decreased insulin production. Therefore, this invitro system may be useful for studying human diabetes mellitus and pre-diabetes using tissue-specific promoters and a dox-inducible transgene. In addition, porcine transgenic fibroblasts containing dox-inducible ICER Iγ were generated. These fibroblasts may serve as a cell source for somatic cell nuclear transfer to generate a porcine model of human diabetes mellitus.

Deregulation of Pancreas-Specific Oxidoreductin ERO1β in the Pathogenesis of Diabetes Mellitus

A growing body of evidence has underlined the significance of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus. ER oxidoreductin 1β (ERO1β) is a pancreas-specific disulfide oxidase that is known to be upregulated in response to ER stress and to promote protein folding in pancreatic β cells. It has recently been demonstrated that ERO1β promotes insulin biogenesis in β cells and thus contributes to physiological glucose homeostasis, though it is unknown if ERO1β is involved in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus. Here we show that in diabetic model mice, ERO1β expression is paradoxically decreased in β cells despite the indications of increased ER stress. However, overexpression of ERO1β in β cells led to the upregulation of unfolded protein response genes and markedly enlarged ER lumens, indicating that ERO1β overexpression caused ER stress in the β cells. Insulin contents were decreased in the β cells that overexpressed ERO1β, leading to impaired insulin secretion in response to glucose stimulation. These data indicate the importance of the fine-tuning of the ER redox state, the disturbance of which would compromise the function of β cells in insulin synthesis and thus contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus.

P004 Transcriptome of unfolded protein response (UPR) genes in the colonic mucosa of patients with ulcerative colitis

P004 Transcriptome of unfolded protein response (UPR) genes in the colonic mucosa of patients with ulcerative colitis

The Molecular Chaperone Binding Protein BiP Prevents Leaf Dehydration-Induced Cellular Homeostasis Disruption

BiP overexpression improves leaf water relations during droughts and delays drought-induced leaf senescence. However, whether BiP controls cellular homeostasis under drought conditions or simply delays dehydration-induced leaf senescence as the primary cause for water stress tolerance remains to be determined. To address this issue, we examined the drought-induced transcriptomes of BiP-overexpressing lines and wild-type (WT) lines under similar leaf water potential (ψw) values. In the WT leaves, a ψw reduction of −1.0 resulted in 1339 up-regulated and 2710 down-regulated genes; in the BiP-overexpressing line 35S::BiP-4, only 334 and 420 genes were induced and repressed, respectively, at a similar leaf ψw = −1.0 MPa. This level of leaf dehydration was low enough to induce a repertory of typical drought-responsive genes in WT leaves but not in 35S::BiP-4 dehydrated leaves. The responders included hormone-related genes, functional and regulatory genes involved in drought protection and senescence-associated genes. The number of differentially expressed genes in the 35S::BiP-4 line approached the wild type number at a leaf ψw = −1.6 MPa. However, N-rich protein (NRP)- mediated cell death signaling genes and unfolded protein response (UPR) genes were induced to a much lower extent in the 35S::BiP-4 line than in the WT even at ψw = −1.6 MPa. The heatmaps for UPR, ERAD (ER-associated degradation protein system), drought-responsive and cell death-associated genes revealed that the leaf transcriptome of 35S::BiP-4 at ψw = −1.0 MPa clustered together with the transcriptome of well-watered leaves and they diverged considerably from the drought-induced transcriptome of the WT (ψw = −1.0, −1.7 and −2.0 MPa) and 35S::BiP-4 leaves at ψw = −1.6 MPa. Taken together, our data revealed that BiP-overexpressing lines requires a much higher level of stress (ψw = −1.6 MPa) to respond to drought than that of WT (ψw = −1.0). Therefore, BiP overexpression maintains cellular homeostasis under water stress conditions and thus ameliorates endogenous osmotic stress.