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The Unfolded Protein Response: A Pathway That Links Insulin Demand with β-Cell Failure and Diabetes

Departments of Biological Chemistry (D.S., R.J.K.) and Internal Medicine (R.J.K.), and Howard Hughes Medical Institute (R.J.K.), The University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

Correspondence: Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Randal J. Kaufman, Departments of Biological Chemistry and Internal Medicine, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109. E-mail: scheuner{at}umich.edu or kaufmanr{at}umich.edu

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the entry site into the secretory pathway for newly synthesized proteins destined for the cell surface or released into the extracellular milieu. The study of protein folding and trafficking within the ER is an extremely active area of research that has provided novel insights into many disease processes. Cells have evolved mechanisms to modulate the capacity and quality of the ER protein-folding machinery to prevent the accumulation of unfolded or misfolded proteins. These signaling pathways are collectively termed the unfolded protein response (UPR). The UPR sensors signal a transcriptional response to expand the ER folding capacity, increase degredation of malfolded proteins, and limit the rate of mRNA translation to reduce the client protein load. Recent genetic and biochemical evidence in both humans and mice supports a requirement for the UPR to preserve ER homeostasis and prevent the β-cell failure that may be fundamental in the etiology of diabetes. Chronic or overwhelming ER stress stimuli associated with metabolic syndrome can disrupt protein folding in the ER, reduce insulin secretion, invoke oxidative stress, and activate cell death pathways. Therapeutic interventions to prevent polypeptide-misfolding, oxidative damage, and/or UPR-induced cell death have the potential to improve β-cell function and/or survival in the treatment of diabetes.

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