Advances in the study of protein folding and endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation in mammal cells

The endoplasmic reticulum is a key site for protein production and quality control.More than one-third of proteins are synthesized and folded into the correct three-dimensional conformation in the endoplasmic reticulum.However,during protein folding,unfolded and/or misfolded proteins are prone to occur,which may lead to endoplasmic reticulum stress.Organisms can monitor the quality of the proteins produced by endoplasmic reticulum quality control(ERQC)and endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation(ERAD),which maintain endoplasmic reticulum protein homeostasis by degrading abnormally folded proteins.The underlying mechanisms of protein folding and ERAD in mammals have not yet been fully explored.Therefore,this paper reviews the process and function of protein folding and ERAD in mammalian cells,in order to help clinicians better understand the mechanism of ERAD and to provide a scientific reference for the treatment of diseases caused by abnormal ERAD.

Regulation and function of endoplasmic reticulum autophagy in neurodegenerative diseases

The endoplasmic reticulum,a key cellular organelle,regulates a wide variety of cellular activities.Endoplasmic reticulum autophagy,one of the quality control systems of the endoplasmic reticulum,plays a pivotal role in maintaining endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis by controlling endoplasmic reticulum turnover,remodeling,and proteostasis.In this review,we briefly describe the endoplasmic reticulum quality control system,and subsequently focus on the role of endoplasmic reticulum autophagy,emphasizing the spatial and temporal mechanisms underlying the regulation of endoplasmic reticulum autophagy according to cellular requirements.We also summarize the evidence relating to how defective or abnormal endoplasmic reticulum autophagy contributes to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases.In summary,this review highlights the mechanisms associated with the regulation of endoplasmic reticulum autophagy and how they influence the pathophysiology of degenerative nerve disorders.This review would help researchers to understand the roles and regulatory mechanisms of endoplasmic reticulum-phagy in neurodegenerative disorders.

SEL1L preserves CD8^(+) T-cell survival and homeostasis by fine-tuning PERK signaling and the IL-15 receptor-mediated mTORC1 axis

SEL1L-mediated endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation(ERAD)plays critical roles in controlling protein homeostasis by degrading misfolded or terminal unfolded proteins.However,it remains unclear how SEL1L regulates peripheral T-cell survival and homeostasis.Herein,we found that SEL1L deficiency led to a greatly reduced frequency and number of mature T cells,which was further validated by adoptive transfer experiments or bone marrow chimera experiments,accompanied by the induction of multiple forms of cell death.Furthermore,SEL1L deficiency selectively disrupted naïve CD8+T-cell homeostasis,as indicated by the severe loss of the naïve T-cell subset but an increase in the memory T-cell subset.We also found that SEL1L deficiency fueled mTORC1/c-MYC activation and induced a metabolic shift,which was largely attributable to enhanced expression of the IL-15 receptorαandβchains.Mechanistically,single-cell transcriptomic profiling and biochemical analyses further revealed that Sel1l−/−CD8+T cells harbored excessive ER stress,particularly aberrant activation of the PERK-ATF4-CHOP-Bim pathway,which was alleviated by supplementing IL-7 or IL-15.Importantly,PERK inhibition greatly resolved the survival defects of Sel1l−/−CD8+T cells.In addition,IRE1αdeficiency decreased mTORC1 signaling in Sel1l−/−naïve CD8+T cells by downregulating the IL-15 receptorαchain.Altogether,these observations suggest that the ERAD adaptor molecule SEL1L acts as an important checkpoint for preserving the survival and homeostasis of peripheral T cells by regulating the PERK signaling cascade and IL-15 receptor-mediated mTORC1 axis.