The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is an important site for protein folding and maturation in eukaryotes. The cellular requirement to synthesize proteins within the ER is matched by its folding capacity. However, the physiological demands or aberrations in folding may result in an imbalance which can lead to the accumulation of misfolded protein, also known as “ER stress.” The unfolded protein response (UPR) is a cell-signaling system that readjusts ER folding capacity to restore protein homeostasis. The key UPR signal activator, IRE1, responds to stress by propagating the UPR signal from the ER to the cytosol. Here, we discuss the structural and molecular basis of IRE1 stress signaling, with particular focus on novel mechanistic advances. We draw a comparison between the recently proposed allosteric model for UPR induction and the role of Hsp70 during polypeptide import to the mitochondrial matrix.

BiP is a major ER chaperone and suggested to act as primary sensor in the activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR). How BiP operates as a molecular chaperone and as an ER stress sensor is unknown. Here, by reconstituting components of human UPR, ER stress and BiP chaperone systems, we discover that the interaction of BiP with the luminal domains (LD) of UPR proteins, IRE1 and PERK, switch BiP from its chaperone cycle into an ER stress sensor cycle by preventing the binding of its cochaperones, with loss of ATPase stimulation. Furthermore, misfolded protein-dependent dissociation of BiP from IRE1 is primed by ATP but not ADP. Our data elucidate a previously unidentified mechanistic cycle of BiP function that explains its ability to act as a Hsp70 chaperone and ER stress sensor.

Synthesis of ribosomal subunits in eukaryotes is a complex and tightly regulated process that has been mostly characterized in yeast. The discovery of a growing number of diseases linked to defects in ribosome biogenesis calls for a deeper understanding of these mechanisms and of the specificities of human ribosome maturation. We present the 19 Å resolution cryo-EM reconstruction of a cytoplasmic precursor to the human small ribosomal subunit, purified by using the tagged ribosome biogenesis factor LTV1 as bait. Compared to yeast pre-40S particles, this first three-dimensional structure of a human 40S subunit precursor shows noticeable differences with respect to the position of ribosome biogenesis factors and uncovers the early deposition of the ribosomal protein RACK1 during subunit maturation. Consistently, RACK1 is required for efficient processing of the 18S rRNA 3′-end, which might be related to its role in translation initiation. This first structural analysis of a human pre-ribosomal particle sets the grounds for high-resolution studies of conformational transitions accompanying ribosomal subunit maturation.