Regulation of the unfolded protein response via S-nitrosylation of sensors of endoplasmic reticulum stress

Sci Rep. 2015 Oct 8:5:14812. doi: 10.1038/srep14812.

Abstract

Protein S-nitrosylation modulates important cellular processes, including neurotransmission, vasodilation, proliferation, and apoptosis in various cell types. We have previously reported that protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) is S-nitrosylated in brains of patients with sporadic neurodegenerative diseases. This modification inhibits PDI enzymatic activity and consequently leads to the accumulation of unfolded/misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lumen. Here, we describe S-nitrosylation of additional ER pathways that affect the unfolded protein response (UPR) in cell-based models of Parkinson's disease (PD). We demonstrate that nitric oxide (NO) can S-nitrosylate the ER stress sensors IRE1α and PERK. While S-nitrosylation of IRE1α inhibited its ribonuclease activity, S-nitrosylation of PERK activated its kinase activity and downstream phosphorylation/inactivation or eIF2α. Site-directed mutagenesis of IRE1α(Cys931) prevented S-nitrosylation and inhibition of its ribonuclease activity, indicating that Cys931 is the predominant site of S-nitrosylation. Importantly, cells overexpressing mutant IRE1α(C931S) were resistant to NO-induced damage. Our findings show that nitrosative stress leads to dysfunctional ER stress signaling, thus contributing to neuronal cell death.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Animals
  • Cell Death
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cysteine / chemistry
  • Cysteine / metabolism
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum / metabolism
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress / genetics*
  • Endoribonucleases / genetics
  • Endoribonucleases / metabolism*
  • Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2 / genetics
  • Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2 / metabolism
  • Fibroblasts / cytology
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Models, Biological
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism*
  • Parkinson Disease / genetics
  • Parkinson Disease / metabolism
  • Parkinson Disease / pathology
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Serine / chemistry
  • Serine / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Unfolded Protein Response / genetics*
  • eIF-2 Kinase / genetics
  • eIF-2 Kinase / metabolism*

Substances

  • Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Serine
  • EIF2AK3 protein, human
  • ERN1 protein, human
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • eIF-2 Kinase
  • Endoribonucleases
  • Cysteine