Project description:The unfolded protein response (UPR) allows the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to recover from the accumulation of misfolded proteins, in part by increasing its folding capacity. IRE1 promotes this remodeling by detecting misfolded ER proteins and activating a transcription factor, XBP-1, through endonucleolytic cleavage of its mRNA. We found that IRE1 independently mediated the rapid degradation of a specific subset of mRNAs. The arrays deposited here show the effects of depletion of IRE1 and XBP-1 on UPR induction in S2 cells. We have characterized the IRE1-dependent repressive branch of this response. Keywords: stress response, RNAi, DTT
Project description:Ire1 is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-located transmembrane protein that triggers the unfolded protein response. I recently noticed that Ire1 is activated not only in response to ER accumulation of unfolded proteins but also alongside diauxic shift in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells. I thus asked how different the Ire1-target genes upon two distinct scenes, a canonical ER -stressing stimuli and diauxic shift. Thus NGS transcriptome analysis was performed by using IRE1+ and ire1-delta mutant yeast cells under these conditions.
Project description:<p>Viral studies of Drosophila melanogaster typically involve virus injection with a small needle, causing post-injury a wounding/wound healing response, in addition to the effects of viral infection. However, the metabolic response to the needle injury is understudied, and many viral investigations neglect potential effects of this response. Furthermore, the wMel strain of the endosymbiont bacterium Wolbachia pipientis provides anti-viral protection in Drosophila. Here we used NMR-based metabolomics to characterise the acute wounding response in Drosophila and the relationship between wound healing and the Wolbachia strain wMel. The most notable response to wounding was found on the initial day of injury and lessened with time in both uninfected and Wolbachia infected flies. Metabolic changes in injured flies revealed evidence of inflammation, Warburg-like metabolism and the melanisation immune response as a response to wounding. In addition, at five days post injury Wolbachia infected injured flies were metabolically more similar to the uninjured flies than uninfected injured flies were at the same time point, indicating a positive interaction between Wolbachia infection and wound healing. This study is the first metabolomic characterisation of the wound response in Drosophila and its findings are crucial to the metabolic interpretation of viral experiments in Drosophila in both past and future studies.</p>
Project description:RNA ligation can regulate RNA function by altering RNA sequence, structure and coding potential. For example, the function of XBP1 in mediating the unfolded protein response requires RNA ligation, as does the maturation of some tRNAs. Here, we describe a novel in vivo model in C. elegans for the conserved RNA ligase RtcB, and show that RtcB ligates the xbp 1 mRNA during the IRE 1 branch of the unfolded protein response. Without RtcB, protein stress results in the accumulation of unligated xbp-1 mRNA fragments, defects in the unfolded protein response, and decreased lifespan. RtcB also ligates endogenous pre tRNA halves, and RtcB mutants have defects in growth and lifespan that can be bypassed by expression of pre-spliced tRNAs. In addition, animals that lack RtcB have defects that are independent of tRNA maturation and the unfolded protein response. Thus, RNA ligation by RtcB is required for the function of multiple endogenous target RNAs including both xbp-1 and tRNAs. RtcB is uniquely capable of performing these ligation functions, and RNA ligation by RtcB mediates multiple essential processes in vivo. 4 paired-end RNA-seq reads. Control worms have pre-spliced tRNAs, RtcB-null have mutated RtcB, +/- tunicamycin treatment
Project description:RNA ligation can regulate RNA function by altering RNA sequence, structure and coding potential. For example, the function of XBP1 in mediating the unfolded protein response requires RNA ligation, as does the maturation of some tRNAs. Here, we describe a novel in vivo model in C. elegans for the conserved RNA ligase RtcB, and show that RtcB ligates the xbp 1 mRNA during the IRE 1 branch of the unfolded protein response. Without RtcB, protein stress results in the accumulation of unligated xbp-1 mRNA fragments, defects in the unfolded protein response, and decreased lifespan. RtcB also ligates endogenous pre tRNA halves, and RtcB mutants have defects in growth and lifespan that can be bypassed by expression of pre-spliced tRNAs. In addition, animals that lack RtcB have defects that are independent of tRNA maturation and the unfolded protein response. Thus, RNA ligation by RtcB is required for the function of multiple endogenous target RNAs including both xbp-1 and tRNAs. RtcB is uniquely capable of performing these ligation functions, and RNA ligation by RtcB mediates multiple essential processes in vivo.
Project description:IRE1, alongside ATF6 and PERK, orchestrates the unfolded protein response, a network of signaling pathways that maintains endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis. Two modes of IRE1 activation are known: i) in response to an accumulation of unfolded proteins in the ER lumen and ii) in response to compositional changes to the ER membrane that alter its physical properties. Here, we identify a third, independent mode of IRE1 activation: ER co-translational translocation deficits activate IRE1 through a mechanism that relies on the release of IRE1 molecules from unoccupied translocons. We define this mechanism as TRES for “TRanslocon Engagement Surveillance”. TRES leads to spontaneous activation of IRE1 and bypasses its unfolded protein- and ER membrane composition-sensing functions. Inhibiting translation initiation similarly activates IRE1 by TRES, as it leads to a decline in ER protein import, thus linking the integrated stress response (ISR) to IRE1 signaling. Surprisingly, TRES drives IRE1 activation without activating ATF6 or PERK, resulting in a distinct gene expression program that feeds back into the co-translational translocation pathway to rebalance the ER protein load. Our findings demonstrate that monitoring and adjusting the rates of protein translocation are critical for maintaining ER homeostasis.
Project description:IRE1, alongside ATF6 and PERK, orchestrates the unfolded protein response, a network of signaling pathways that maintains endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis. Two modes of IRE1 activation are known: i) in response to an accumulation of unfolded proteins in the ER lumen and ii) in response to compositional changes to the ER membrane that alter its physical properties. Here, we identify a third, independent mode of IRE1 activation: ER co-translational translocation deficits activate IRE1 through a mechanism that relies on the release of IRE1 molecules from unoccupied translocons. We define this mechanism as TRES for “TRanslocon Engagement Surveillance”. TRES leads to spontaneous activation of IRE1 and bypasses its unfolded protein- and ER membrane composition-sensing functions. Inhibiting translation initiation similarly activates IRE1 by TRES, as it leads to a decline in ER protein import, thus linking the integrated stress response (ISR) to IRE1 signaling. Surprisingly, TRES drives IRE1 activation without activating ATF6 or PERK, resulting in a distinct gene expression program that feeds back into the co-translational translocation pathway to rebalance the ER protein load. Our findings demonstrate that monitoring and adjusting the rates of protein translocation are critical for maintaining ER homeostasis.