Detection of PERK Signaling in the Central Nervous System

Methods Mol Biol. 2022:2378:233-245. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1732-8_15.

Abstract

In response to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, activation of pancreatic ER kinase (PERK) signaling adapts cells to stressful conditions by phosphorylating eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α (eIF2α). Phosphorylation of eIF2α inhibits global protein translation but stimulates the expression of numerous stress-responsive genes by inducing the transcription factor ATF4. A large number of studies have shown that activation of PERK signaling has beneficial or detrimental effects in various diseases of the central nervous system (CNS), including neurodegenerative diseases, myelin disorders, CNS injuries, among others. This chapter is devoted to describing the practical methods for the detection of PERK signaling in CNS diseases.

Keywords: ATF4; CHOP; GADD34; Immunofluorescence; Neuron; Oligodendrocyte; PERK; Phosphorylated eIF2α; Real-time PCR; Western blot.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Activating Transcription Factor 4* / genetics
  • Activating Transcription Factor 4* / metabolism
  • Apoptosis
  • Central Nervous System / metabolism
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress
  • Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2 / genetics
  • Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2 / metabolism
  • eIF-2 Kinase* / genetics
  • eIF-2 Kinase* / metabolism

Substances

  • Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2
  • Activating Transcription Factor 4
  • eIF-2 Kinase