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PubMed1988

Endoplasmic reticulum of rat liver contains two proteins closely related to skeletal sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca-ATPase and calsequestrin.

Rat liver endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membranes were investigated for the presence of proteins having structural relationships with sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) proteins. Western immunoblots of ER proteins probed with polyclonal antibodies raised against the 100-kDa SR Ca-ATPase of rabbit skeletal muscle identified a single reactive protein of 100 kDa. Also, the antibody inhibited up to 50% the Ca-ATPase activity of isolated ER membranes. Antisera raised against the major intraluminal calcium binding protein of rabbit skeletal muscle SR, calsequestrin (CS), cross-reacted with an ER peptide of about 63 kDa, by the blotting technique. Stains-All treatment of slab gels showed that the cross-reactive peptide stained metachromatically blue, similarly to SR CS. Two-dimensional electrophoresis (Michalak, M., Campbell, K. P., and MacLennan, D. H. (1980) J. Biol. Chem. 255, 1317-1326) of ER proteins showed that the CS-like component of liver ER, similarly to skeletal CS, fell off the diagonal line, as expected from the characteristic pH dependence of the rate of mobility of mammalian CS. In addition, the CS-like component of liver ER was released from the vesicles by alkaline treatment and was found to be able to bind calcium, by a 45Ca overlay technique. From these findings, we conclude that a 100-kDa membrane protein of liver ER is the Ca-ATPase, and that the peripheral protein in the 63-kDa range is closely structurally and functionally related to skeletal CS.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

The calcium release channel of sarcoplasmic reticulum is modulated by FK-506-binding protein. Dissociation and reconstitution of FKBP-12 to the calcium release channel of skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum.

The ryanodine receptor/calcium release channel (CRC) of rabbit skeletal muscle terminal cisternae (TC) of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) has been found to be tightly associated with FK-506 binding protein (FKBP-12), the cytosolic receptor (immunophilin) for the immunosuppressant drug FK-506 (Jayaraman, T., Brillantes, A. M., Timerman, A. P., Fleischer, S., Erdjument-Bromage, H., Tempst, P., and Marks, A. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 9474-9477). In this study, a procedure is described to dissociate FKBP from TC and reconstitute human recombinant FKBP-12 back to the ryanodine receptor so that the role of the immunophilin on CRC activity can be assessed. Titration of TC vesicles with FK-506 dissociates FKBP from the ryanodine receptor. Sedimentation of FK-506-treated vesicles effectively separates the TC from the soluble FKBP-FK506 complex which remains in the supernatant. The FKBP-deficient TC vesicles have altered functional characteristics: 1) the ATP-stimulated calcium uptake rate of TC vesicles is reduced 2-fold; and 2) the threshold concentration of caffeine required to induce calcium release from TC vesicles is decreased. These changes appear to reflect modification of the calcium release channel since: 1) severalfold higher concentrations of FK-506 do not alter the calcium uptake rate of either longitudinal tubules of SR, or TC vesicles in the presence of ruthenium red; 2) human recombinant FKBP reassociates with FKBP-deficient TC but not with control TC or longitudinal tubules of SR; and 3) the reduced Ca2+ uptake rate in FKBP-deficient TC is restored to control values in the FKBP-reconstituted TC. These studies demonstrate that FKBP-12 modulates the CRC of rabbit skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Thymic reticulum in mice. II. Culture and characterization of nonepithelial phagocytic cells of the thymic reticulum: their role in the syngeneic stimulation of thymic medullary lymphocytes.

In the present report the characteristics of nonepithelial phagocytic cells of the murine thymic reticulum are described. Primary cultures were established from thymic fragments. Nonadherent cells with hairy membranes proliferated on the surface of established primary monolayers. These cells were recovered and replated in secondary cultures were they appeared as large adherent cells with dendritic shape. At the electron microscopic level, phagocytic cells of the thymic reticulum in culture (P-TR-C) appear as clear vacuolated cells with an indented nucleus and few lysosomes; this morphological aspect makes them different from the common macrophage, despite their phagocytic capacity. P-TR-C are positive for nonspecific esterase, acid phosphatase which is found in the few lysosomes present, 5'-nucleotidase and alpha-D-mannosidase, but negative for peroxidase. A high proportion of alpha-mannosidase-positive cells is inconsistent with the common macrophage, but in common with other cells with dendritic shape such as Langerhans cells. They are Thy-1-, Ig- and nearly half of them are IA+. P-TR-C can be defined as the stimulator cells for syngeneic stimulation; they are able to induce the proliferation of lymphocytes enriched in mature syngeneic medullary thymocytes, but not in immature cortical ones. Characteristics of P-TR-C make them very similar to the interdigitating cells described in the peripheral lymphoid organs and in the thymus in situ.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Spindle cell neoplasms of lymph nodes of probable reticulum cell lineage. True reticulum cell sarcoma?

Primary spindle cell neoplasms involving hematolymphoid organs are extremely rare. We present four cases of spindle cell neoplasms of unusual phenotype arising within lymph nodes. Two of the four cases showed morphologic and immunophenotypic features suggestive of interdigitating reticulum cell lineage; these cases expressed several macrophage antigens and S-100 protein but not CD1. The other two cases showed evidence suggestive of dendritic reticulum cell lineage. Both cases expressed HLA-DR, several macrophage antigens, complement receptors C3b and C3d; one case expressed R4/23; both showed the presence of desmosomes on ultrastructural examination. A germline configuration for the immunoglobulin heavy chain and beta-T--cell receptor genes was detected in all four cases. Of the two patients in the first group, one had local recurrence of tumor; the other died of widespread metastases. Of the two patients in the second group, both are alive and well at 12 and 27 months follow-up, respectively.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Three-dimensional ultrastructural analysis of peroxisomes in HepG2 cells. Absence of peroxisomal reticulum but evidence of close spatial association with the endoplasmic reticulum.

Peroxisomes in the human hepatoblastoma cell line, HepG2, exhibit distinct alterations of shape, size, and distribution, dependent on culture conditions (cell density, duration in culture, and presence of specific growth factors). Although many cells with elongated tubular peroxisomes are present in thinly seeded cultures, spherical particles forming large focal clusters are found in confluent cultures. The authors have analyzed the ultrastructure and the spatial relationship of peroxisomes of HepG2 cells at different stages of differentiation, using three-dimensional (3D)-reconstruction of ultrathin serial sections, and electronic image processing. Cells were prepared for immunofluorescence using different antibodies against peroxisomal matrix and membrane proteins, as well as for electron microscopy after the alkaline 3,3'-diaminobenzidine staining for catalase. The results indicate that the tubular peroxisomes, which can reach a length of several microns, are consistently isolated, and never form an interconnected peroxisomal reticulum. At the time of disappearance of tubular peroxisomes, rows of spherical peroxisomes, arranged like beads on a string, are observed, suggesting fission of tubular ones. In differentiated confluent cultures, clusters of several peroxisomes are seen, which, by immunofluorescence, appear as large aggregates, but after 3D reconstruction consist of single spherical and angular peroxisomes without interconnections. The majority of such mature spherical peroxisomes (but not the tubular ones) exhibit tail-like, small tubular and vesicular attachments to their surface, suggesting a close functional interaction with neighboring organelles, particularly the endoplasmic reticulum, which is often observed in close vicinity of such peroxisomes.

Humans↗
PubMed1985

Induced type-B reticulum cell neoplasia of CBA mice. I. Phenotypic similarities between tumorigenic reticulum cells and normal accessory cells.

The phenotype and tumorigenicity of various cell types which occur in induced, transplantable type-B reticulum cell neoplasms of CBA strain mice have been examined. Evidence is presented that the neoplasms contain tumorigenic cells, morphologically defined as reticulum cells, having several phenotypic characteristics of the lymphoid dendritic and veiled accessory cells of normality, and macrophages and small lymphoid cells which are probably reactive cells of host origin.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Molecular chaperones involved in protein degradation in the endoplasmic reticulum: quantitative interaction of the heat shock cognate protein BiP with partially folded immunoglobulin light chains that are degraded in the endoplasmic reticulum.

In the absence of immunoglobulin heavy-chain expression, some immunoglobulin light (L) chains are retained and degraded within the cell. We investigated the fate of two different nonsecreted murine L chains which exhibit different half-lives (50 min and 3-4 hr). Our results demonstrate that both nonsecreted L chains are quantitatively bound to BiP as partially oxidized molecules. The kinetics of L-chain degradation coincided with those of L-chain dissociation from BiP, which suggests that these two processes are functionally related. L-chain degradation does not depend on vesicular transport, indicating that these soluble proteins are degraded in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In contrast, secreted L chains, which interact only transiently with BiP, are completely oxidized and are not degraded even when they are artificially retained in the ER. Our data support the model that, by means of BiP interaction, the ER degradation mechanism has the potential to discriminate between partially and completely folded molecules.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Mitochondria recycle Ca(2+) to the endoplasmic reticulum and prevent the depletion of neighboring endoplasmic reticulum regions.

To study Ca(2+) fluxes between mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), we used "cameleon" indicators targeted to the cytosol, the ER lumen, and the mitochondrial matrix. High affinity mitochondrial probes saturated in approximately 20% of mitochondria during histamine stimulation of HeLa cells, whereas a low affinity probe reported averaged peak values of 106 +/- 5 microm, indicating that Ca(2+) transients reach high levels in a fraction of mitochondria. In concurrent ER measurements, [Ca(2+)](ER) averaged 371 +/- 21 microm at rest and decreased to 133 +/- 14 microm and 59 +/- 5 microm upon stimulation with histamine and thapsigargin, respectively, indicating that substantial ER refilling occur during agonist stimulation. A larger ER depletion was observed when mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake was prevented by oligomycin and rotenone or when Ca(2+) efflux from mitochondria was blocked by CGP 37157, indicating that some of the Ca(2+) taken up by mitochondria is re-used for ER refilling. Accordingly, ER regions close to mitochondria released less Ca(2+) than ER regions lacking mitochondria. The ER heterogeneity was abolished by thapsigargin, oligomycin/rotenone, or CGP 37157, indicating that mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake locally modulate ER refilling. These observations indicate that some mitochondria are very close to the sites of Ca(2+) release and recycle a substantial portion of the captured Ca(2+) back to vicinal ER domains. The distance between the two organelles thus determines both the amplitude of mitochondrial Ca(2+) signals and the filling state of neighboring ER regions.

Calcium↗
PubMed2006

Homocysteine-induced endoplasmic reticulum protein (Herp) is up-regulated in sporadic inclusion-body myositis and in endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced cultured human muscle fibers.

Herp is a stress-response protein localized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane. Herp was proposed to improve ER-folding, decrease ER protein load, and participate in ER-associated degradation (ERAD). Intra-muscle-fiber ubiquitinated multiprotein-aggregates containing, among other proteins, either amyloid-beta (Abeta) or phosphorylated tau are characteristic of sporadic inclusion-body myositis (s-IBM). ER stress and proteasome inhibition appear to play a role in s-IBM pathogenesis. We have now studied Herp in s-IBM muscle fibers and in ER-stress-induced or proteasome-inhibited cultured human muscle fibers. In s-IBM muscle fibers: (i) Herp was strongly immunoreactive in the form of aggregates, which co-localized with Abeta, GRP78, and beta2 proteasome subunit; (ii) Herp mRNA and protein were increased. In ER-stress-induced cultured human muscle fibers: (i) Herp immunoreactivity was diffusely increased; (ii) Herp mRNA and protein were increased. In proteasome-inhibited cultured human muscle fibers: (i) Herp immunoreactivity was in the form of aggregates; (ii) Herp protein was increased, but its mRNA was not. Accordingly, in s-IBM muscle fibers: (i) increase of Herp might be due to both ER-stress and proteasome inhibition; (ii) co-localization of Herp with Abeta, proteasome, and ER-chaperone GRP78 could reflect its possible role in processing and degradation of cytotoxic proteins in ER.

Amyloid beta-Peptides↗
PubMed2005

Effects of phytoestrogens on sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase 2a and Ca2+ uptake into cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Phytoestrogens are naturally occurring estrogenic compounds found in plants and plant products. These compounds are also known to exert cellular effects independent of their interactions with estrogen receptors. We studied the effects of the phytoestrogens phloretin, phloridzin, genistein, and biochanin A on Ca(2+) uptake into the cardiac muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). Genistein and biochanin A did not affect SR Ca(2+) uptake. On the other hand, phloretin and phloridzin decreased the maximum velocity of SR Ca(2+) uptake but did not affect the Hill coefficient or the Ca(2+) sensitivity of uptake. Measurements of the ATPase activity of the cardiac SR Ca(2+) pump (SERCA2a) revealed direct inhibitory effects of phloretin and phloridzin on SERCA2a. Neither compound induced a detectable change in the permeability of the SR membrane to Ca(2+). These results indicate that phloretin and phloridzin inhibit cardiac SR Ca(2+) uptake by directly inhibiting SERCA2a.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Excessive sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase expression causes increased sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ uptake but decreases myocyte shortening.

BACKGROUND: Increasing sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) uptake activity is a promising therapeutic approach for heart failure. We investigated the effects of different levels of SERCA1a expression on contractility and Ca2+ cycling. We tested whether increased SERCA1a expression levels enhance myocyte contractility in a gene-dose-dependent manner. METHODS AND RESULTS: Rabbit isolated cardiomyocytes were transfected at different multiplicities of infection (MOIs) with adenoviruses encoding SERCA1a (or beta-galactosidase as control). Myocyte relaxation half-time was decreased by 10% (P=0.052) at SERCA1a MOI 10 and by 28% at MOI 50 (P<0.05). Myocyte fractional shortening was increased by 12% at MOI 10 (P<0.05) but surprisingly decreased at MOI 50 (-22%, P<0.05) versus control. SR Ca2+ uptake (in permeabilized myocytes) demonstrated a gene-dose-dependent decrease in K(m) by 29% and 46% and an increase in Vmax by 37% and 72% at MOI 10 and MOI 50, respectively (all P<0.05 versus control). Ca2+ transient amplitude was increased in Ad-SERCA1a-infected myocytes at MOI 10 (by 121%, P<0.05), but at MOI 50, the Ca2+ transient amplitude was not significantly changed. Caffeine-induced Ca2+ transients indicated significantly increased SR Ca2+ content in Ad-SERCA1a-infected cells, by 72% at MOI 10 and by 87% at MOI 50. Mathematical simulations demonstrate that the functional increase in SR Ca2+-ATPase uptake activity at MOI 50 (and increased cytosolic Ca2+ buffering) is sufficient to curtail the Ca2+ transient amplitude and explain the reduced contraction. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate SERCA1a gene transfer and expression improve contractility and Ca(2+) cycling. However, higher SERCA1a expression levels can impair myocyte shortening because of higher SERCA activity and Ca2+ buffering.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed1994

The endoplasmic reticulum calcium-binding protein of 55 kDa is a novel EF-hand protein retained in the endoplasmic reticulum by a carboxyl-terminal His-Asp-Glu-Leu motif.

We have identified a new human Ca(2+)-binding protein that is specifically localized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The protein is termed ERC-55, i.e. ER calcium-binding protein of 55 kDa. ERC-55 is a single copy gene and is encoded by an approximately 1900-base mRNA, which shows a ubiquitous expression pattern. The ERC-55 protein comprises an amino-terminal signal sequence followed by six copies of the EF-hand Ca2+ binding motif. Ca2+ binding was demonstrated directly for recombinant ERC-55 using the 45Ca2+ overlay technique. The carboxyl-terminal sequence His-Asp-Glu-Leu (HDEL) is required for retention of ERC-55 in the ER. Deletion of HDEL results in slow secretion into the medium. In pulse-chase experiments, approximately 50% of the HDEL deletion mutant is secreted, whereas no detectable secretion is observed with the wild-type protein. This represents the first example of an endogenous human protein that is retained in the ER by an HDEL rather than Lys-Asp-Glu-Leu (KDEL) carboxyl-terminal tetrapeptide. Comparative sequence analysis indicates that ERC-55, together with the recently identified protein reticulocalbin (Ozawa and Muramatsu, 1993), constitute a new subfamily of the EF-hand superfamily of Ca(2+)-binding proteins that are specifically located in the ER.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2005

Entry of protein toxins into mammalian cells by crossing the endoplasmic reticulum membrane: co-opting basic mechanisms of endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation.

The catalytic polypeptides of certain bacterial and plant protein toxins reach their substrates in the cytosol of mammalian cells by retro-translocation from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Emerging evidence indicates that these proteins subvert the ER-associated protein degradation (ERAD) pathway that normally removes misfolded or unassembled proteins from the ER, to achieve retrotranslocation. Upon entering the ER lumen, the toxins are unfolded to be perceived as ERAD substrates. Toxins that retro-translocate from the ER have an unusually low lysine content to avoid ubiquitin-mediated proteasomal degradation. This allows the exported toxins to refold into the proteasome-resistant, biologically active conformation, and leads to cellular intoxication.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

The role of sarcoplasmic reticulum and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase in the smooth muscle tone of the cat gastric fundus.

Circular smooth muscle strips isolated from cat gastric fundus were studied in order to understand whether the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and SR Ca2+-ATPase could play a role in the regulation of the muscle tone. Cyclopiazonic acid (CPA), a specific inhibitor of SR Ca2+-ATPase, caused a significant and sustained increase in muscle tone, depending on the presence of extracellular Ca2+. Nifedipine and cinnarizin only partially suppressed the CPA-induced tonic contraction. Bay K 8644 antagonized the relaxant effect of nifedipine in CPA-contracted fundus. Nitric-oxide-releasing agents sodium nitroprusside and 3-morpholino-sydnonimine completely suppressed the CPA-induced tonic contraction. The blockers of Ca2+-activated K+ channels, tetraethylammonium, charybdotoxin and/or apamin, decreased the contractile effect of CPA. Vanadate increased the tone but did not change significantly the effect of CPA. CPA exerted its contractile effect even when Ca2+ influx was triggered through the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger and the other Ca2+ entry pathways were blocked. Thapsigargin, another specific SR Ca2+-ATPase inhibitor, also increased the muscle tone. The effect of thapsigargin was completely suppressed by sodium nitroprusside and 3-morpholino-sydnonimine and partially by nifedipine. In conclusion, under conditions when the SR Ca2+-ATPase is inhibited, the tissue develops a strong tonic contraction and a large part of this is mediated by Ca2+ influx presumably via nifedipine-sensitive Ca2+ channels. This study suggests the important role of SR Ca2+-ATPase in the modulation of the muscle tone and the function of SR as a "buffer barrier" to Ca2+ entry in the cat gastric fundus smooth muscle.

3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethy↗
PubMed2006

Constitutive expression of an endoplasmic reticulum small heat shock protein alleviates endoplasmic reticulum stress in transgenic tomato.

To explore the function of endoplasmic reticulum-located small heat-shock proteins (ER-sHSPs) in ER stress, a putative ER-sHSP cDNA (the driven protein was named as LeHSP21.5 with GenBank accession No. AB026983) was isolated from tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). Fractionation of the crude microsomes by isopycnic sucrose-gradient centrifugation revealed that LeHSP21.5 was distributed on a density corresponding to the fractions with a higher activity of ER marker enzyme, suggesting the localization of LeHSP21.5 in the ER. Overexpressing LeHSP21.5 in transgenic tomato plants (L. esculentum var. Zhongshu 4) greatly attenuated the lethal effect of tunicamycin on tomato seedlings. Moreover, under the tunicamycin treatment, transcripts of BiP, PDI and calnexin in transgenic tomato plants accumulated to a less level than those in non-transgenic tomato plants. These results suggest that LeHSP21.5 can function to alleviate the tunicamycin-induced ER stress.

Cloning, Molecular↗
PubMed2000

Potentiation of fractional sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium release by total and free intra-sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium concentration.

Our aim was to measure the influence of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) calcium content ([Ca](SRT)) and free SR [Ca] ([Ca](SR)) on the fraction of SR calcium released during voltage clamp steps in isolated rabbit ventricular myocytes. [Ca](SRT), as measured by caffeine application, was progressively increased by conditioning pulses. Sodium was absent in both the intracellular and in the extracellular solutions to block sodium/calcium exchange. Total cytosolic calcium flux during the transient was inferred from I(Ca), [Ca](SRT), [Ca](i), and cellular buffering characteristics. Fluxes via the calcium current (I(Ca)), the SR calcium pump, and passive leak from the SR were evaluated to determine SR calcium release flux (J(rel)). Excitation-contraction (EC) coupling was characterized with respect to both gain (integral J(rel)/integral I(Ca)) and fractional SR calcium release. Both parameters were virtually zero for a small, but measurable [Ca](SRT). Gain and fractional SR calcium release increased steeply and nonlinearly with both [Ca](SRT) and [Ca](SR). We conclude that potentiation of EC coupling can be correlated with both [Ca](SRT) and [Ca](SR). While fractional SR calcium release was not linearly dependent upon [Ca](SR), intra-SR calcium may play a crucial role in regulating the SR calcium release process.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Calcium transport by sarcoplasmic reticulum of skeletal muscle is inhibited by antibodies against the 53-kilodalton glycoprotein of the sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane.

The effects of an antiserum against the 53-kDa glycoprotein (GP-53) of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and of monoclonal antibodies against GP-53 on Ca2+ transport and ATP hydrolysis by SR of rabbit skeletal muscle have been investigated. Preincubation of SR with an antiserum against GP-53 resulted in decreased ATP-driven Ca2+ transport by the SR but had no effect on Ca2+-stimulated ATP hydrolysis. Preincubation of SR with preimmune serum had no significant effect on either Ca2+ transport or Ca2+-ATPase activity. The effect of anti-GP-53 serum was time and concentration dependent. Preincubation of SR with two monoclonal antibodies against GP-53 had no effect on Ca2+ transport or on Ca2+-stimulated ATP hydrolysis. However, preincubation of SR with either monoclonal antibody against GP-53 together with a monoclonal antibody against the Ca2+-ATPase (at levels which had little effect alone) resulted in markedly decreased rates of Ca2+ uptake and ATP hydrolysis. Preincubation of SR with anti-GP-53-serum or with monoclonal antibodies, under the same conditions that inhibited Ca2+ uptake, did not increase the passive permeability of the SR membrane to Ca2+, did not decrease the permeability of the SR to oxalate, and did not cause significant proteolysis of the Ca2+-ATPase. Our results are consistent with the interpretation that GP-53 may modulate the function of the Ca2+-ATPase of the SR membrane.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed2006

Pbn1p: an essential endoplasmic reticulum membrane protein required for protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum of budding yeast.

PBN1 was identified as a gene required for production of protease B (PrB) activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. PBN1 encodes an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-localized, type I membrane glycoprotein and is essential for cell viability. To study the essential function(s) of Pbn1p, we constructed a strain with PBN1 under control of the GAL promoter. Depletion of Pbn1p in this strain abrogates processing of the ER precursor forms of PrB, Gas1p, and Pho8p. Depletion of Pbn1p does not affect exit of proprotease A or procarboxypeptidase Y from the ER, indicating that Pbn1p is not required for global exit from the ER. Depleting Pbn1p leads to a significant increase in the unfolded protein response pathway, accompanied by an expansion of bulk ER membrane, indicating that there is a defect in protein folding in the ER. pbn1-1, a nonlethal allele of PBN1, displays synthetic lethality with the ero1-1 allele (ERO1 is required for oxidation in the ER) and synthetic growth defects with the cne1Delta allele (CNE1 encodes calnexin). ER-associated degradation of a lumenal substrate, CPY*, is blocked in the absence of Pbn1p. These results suggest that Pbn1p is required for proper folding and/or the stability of a subset of proteins in the ER. Thus, Pbn1p is an essential chaperone-like protein in the ER of yeast.

Alleles↗