Cited by 2,666Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and DiseaseHeat shock proteins researchIon Channels and Receptors

Mechanisms, regulation and functions of the unfolded protein response

Open access
Hetz, Claudio, Zhang, Kezhong, Kaufman, Randal J.·2020·Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology

Abstract

Cellular stress induced by the abnormal accumulation of unfolded or misfolded proteins at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is emerging as a possible driver of human diseases, including cancer, diabetes, obesity and neurodegeneration. ER proteostasis surveillance is mediated by the unfolded protein response (UPR), a signal transduction pathway that senses the fidelity of protein folding in the ER lumen. The UPR transmits information about protein folding status to the nucleus and cytosol to adjust the protein folding capacity of the cell or, in the event of chronic damage, induce apoptotic cell death. Recent advances in the understanding of the regulation of UPR signalling and its implications in the pathophysiology of disease might open new therapeutic avenues. The unfolded protein response (UPR) comprises a network of signalling pathways that reprogramme transcription, translation and protein modifications to relieve the load of unfolded or misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum lumen and restore proteostasis. Understanding the regulation of the UPR and the role it has in the pathophysiology of various cell types and organs might open new therapeutic avenues.

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Crossref · 10.1038/s41580-020-0250-z

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  • H2O2 accumulation triggers activation of both intrinsic (caspase-9-mediated) and extrinsic (caspase-8-mediated) apoptotic pathways, resulting in DNA fragmentation and cell cycle arrest.

    “This triggers the activation of both intrinsic (caspase-9-mediated) and extrinsic (caspase-8-mediated) apoptotic pathways, ultimately resulting in DNA fragmentation and cell cycle arrest [45,46].”

    From Role of Regulated Cell Death Pathways in Snakebite Envenomation: Mechanisms, Crosstalk, and Therapeutic Opportunities (2026) · cites this paper as [46]

    The 'Cell death control under ER stress' section describes mitochondrial apoptosome formation and death-receptor-5/caspase-8 signalling in ER-stress-induced apoptosis. It does not establish that H2O2 accumulation activates both pathways, identify caspase-9, or link those pathways to DNA fragmentation and cell-cycle arrest. The 'DNA damage response' section mentions cell-cycle arrest in a different context; page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.87)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Activated UPR tries to rescue cells from ER stress by two pathways-PERK/EIF2AK3 reduces protein synthesis, and IRE1/ERN1 increases protein folding.

    “This activated UPR tries to rescue cells from ER stress by two pathways—the PERK/EIF2AK3 pathway, which reduces protein synthesis, and the IRE1/ERN1 pathway, which increases protein folding [46].”

    From Role of Regulated Cell Death Pathways in Snakebite Envenomation: Mechanisms, Crosstalk, and Therapeutic Opportunities (2026) · cites this paper as [46]

    The PERK section says PERK transiently attenuates protein synthesis, and the IRE1α section says IRE1α activates XBP1, which upregulates genes involved in protein folding. But the section on the three UPR branches identifies ATF6α as a third main signalling cascade, so describing the response as occurring by two pathways is incomplete. The supplied copy gives section labels but no page numbers. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Canonical stress responses induce a reduction in protein synthesis.

    “Contrary to canonical stress responses that induce a reduction in protein synthesis5,6”

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. [33]Sriburi R, Jackowski S, Mori K & Brewer JW XBP1: a link between the unfolded protein response, lipid biosynthesis, and biogenesis of the endoplasmic reticulum. J. Cell Biol 167, 35– 41 (2004). 15466483 PMC2172532

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Authors
Hetz, C., Zhang, K., & Kaufman, R. J.
Affiliations
  • Buck Institute for Research on Aging (US)
  • Wayne State University (US)
  • Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (US)
Corresponding author
  • Hetz, Claudio
  • Zhang, Kezhong
  • Kaufman, Randal J.
Venue
Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology
Published
2020-05-26
Volume
21
Issue
8
Pages
421-438
ISSN
  • 1471-0072 (ISSN-L)
  • 1471-0080
OpenAlex
W3030834164
Cited by
2,666
References
248
Citations by year
2026: 480 · 2025: 586 · 2024: 555 · 2023: 412 · 2022: 356 · 2021: 229 · 2020: 44 · 2019: 1 · 2013: 1
FWCI
30.36
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Universidad de Chile (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (2r01dk090313-11a1)
  • National Cancer Institute (R01CA198103, P30CA030199)
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (R01DK113171, R24DK110973, R01-DK-090313, R01DK103185, P30DK063491)
  • National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (R01AR066634)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Disease
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Heat shock proteins research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Ion Channels and Receptors
Keywords
unfolded protein response, endoplasmic reticulum stress, ER proteostasis, protein folding, apoptosis, transcriptional reprogramming, translational regulation, protein modification, disease pathophysiology, therapeutic target
MeSH terms
Animals, Endoplasmic Reticulum, Humans, Neoplasms, Proteins, Signal Transduction, Apoptosis, Protein Folding, Unfolded Protein Response, Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

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