The endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-localized Hsp70 chaperone BiP contributes to protein folding homeostasis by engaging unfolded client proteins in a process that is tightly coupled to ATP binding and hydrolysis. The inverse correlation between BiP AMPylation and the burden of unfolded ER proteins suggests a post-translational mechanism for adjusting BiP’s activity to changing levels of ER stress, but the underlying molecular details are unexplored. We present biochemical and crystallographic studies indicating that irrespective of the identity of the bound nucleotide AMPylation biases BiP towards a conformation normally attained by the ATP-bound chaperone. AMPylation does not affect the interaction between BiP and J-protein co-factors but appears to allosterically impair J protein-stimulated ATP-hydrolysis, resulting in the inability of modified BiP to attain high affinity for its substrates. These findings suggest a molecular mechanism by which AMPylation serves as a switch to inactivate BiP, limiting its interactions with substrates whilst conserving ATP.

Despite its known role as a secreted neuroprotectant, much of the mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) is retained in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of producer cells. There, by unknown mechanisms, MANF plays a role in protein folding homeostasis in complex with the ER-localized Hsp70 chaperone BiP. Here we report that the SAF-A/B, Acinus, and PIAS (SAP) domain of MANF selectively associates with the nucleotide binding domain (NBD) of ADP-bound BiP. In crystal structures the SAP domain engages the cleft between NBD subdomains Ia and IIa, stabilizing the ADP-bound conformation and clashing with the interdomain linker that occupies this site in ATP-bound BiP. MANF inhibits both ADP release from BiP and ATP binding to BiP, and thereby client release. Cells lacking MANF have fewer ER stress-induced BiP-containing high molecular weight complexes. These findings suggest that MANF contributes to protein folding homeostasis as a nucleotide exchange inhibitor that stabilizes certain BiP-client complexes.

Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) chaperones play a central role in protein quality control and are crucial for many cellular processes, including protein folding, degradation, and disaggregation. Human HSP70s compose a family of 13 members that carry out their functions with the aid of even larger families of co-chaperones. A delicate interplay between HSP70s and co-chaperone recruitment is thought to determine substrate fate, yet it has been generally assumed that all Hsp70 paralogs have similar activities and are largely functionally redundant. However, here we found that when expressed in human cells, two highly homologous HSP70s, HSPA1A and HSPA1L, have opposing effects on cellular handling of various substrates. For example, HSPA1A reduced aggregation of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis–associated protein variant superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1)–A4V, whereas HSPA1L enhanced its aggregation. Intriguingly, variations in the substrate-binding domain of these HSP70s did not play a role in this difference. Instead, we observed that substrate fate is determined by differential interactions of the HSP70s with co-chaperones. Whereas most co-chaperones bound equally well to these two HSP70s, Hsp70/Hsp90-organizing protein (HOP) preferentially bound to HSPA1L, and the Hsp110 nucleotide-exchange factor HSPH2 preferred HSPA1A. The role of HSPH2 was especially crucial for the HSPA1A-mediated reduction in SOD1-A4V aggregation. These findings reveal a remarkable functional diversity at the level of the cellular HSP70s and indicate that this diversity is defined by their affinities for specific co-chaperones such as HSPH2.