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Z-α1-antitrypsin polymers impose molecular filtration in the endoplasmic reticulum after undergoing phase transition to a solid state.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

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Article

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Abstract

Misfolding of secretory proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) features in many human diseases. In α1-antitrypsin deficiency, the pathogenic Z variant aberrantly assembles into polymers in the hepatocyte ER, leading to cirrhosis. We show that α1-antitrypsin polymers undergo a liquid:solid phase transition, forming a protein matrix that retards mobility of ER proteins by size-dependent molecular filtration. The Z-α1-antitrypsin phase transition is promoted during ER stress by an ATF6-mediated unfolded protein response. Furthermore, the ER chaperone calreticulin promotes Z-α1-antitrypsin solidification and increases protein matrix stiffness. Single-particle tracking reveals that solidification initiates in cells with normal ER morphology, previously assumed to represent a healthy pool. We show that Z-α1-antitrypsin-induced hypersensitivity to ER stress can be explained by immobilization of ER chaperones within the polymer matrix. This previously unidentified mechanism of ER dysfunction provides a template for understanding a diverse group of related proteinopathies and identifies ER chaperones as potential therapeutic targets.

Description

Keywords

3101 Biochemistry and Cell Biology, 31 Biological Sciences, 2.1 Biological and endogenous factors, 2 Aetiology

Journal Title

Sci Adv

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2375-2548
2375-2548

Volume Title

8

Publisher

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Sponsorship
Alpha One Foundation (unknown)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/H018301/1)
Wellcome Trust (093026/Z/10/Z)
Wellcome Trust (089703/Z/09/Z)
Wellcome Trust (100140/Z/12/Z)
Medical Research Council (MR/K015850/1)
Medical Research Council (MR/K02292X/1)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/L015889/1)
Medical Research Council (MR/R009120/1)
MRC (MR/V028669/1)
Medical Research Council (MR/S005552/1)
Wellcome Trust (203249/Z/16/Z)
Wellcome Trust (218651/Z/19/Z)
Medical Research Council (G1002610)
Alpha-1 Foundation Grifols Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Laurell’s Training Award National Biofilms Innovation Centre MINECO MedImmune Infinitus NIH The American Cancer Society The Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Award The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative UK Dementia Research Institute grant Canadian Institutes of Health Research US Alzheimer Society Integrated Biological Imaging Network