Activation of goblet cell stress sensor IRE1β is controlled by the mucin chaperone AGR2

Abstract

As secretory cells specialized in the production of mucins, intestinal goblet cells are challenged by the need for efficient protein folding. Goblet cells express Inositol-Requiring Enzyme 1β (IRE1β), a unique unfolded protein response (UPR) sensor that is part of an adaptive mechanism that regulates the demands of mucin production and secretion. However, how IRE1β activity is tuned to mucus folding load remains unknown. We identified the disulfide isomerase and mucin chaperone AGR2 as a goblet cell specific protein that crucially regulates IRE1β-, but not IRE1α-mediated signaling. AGR2 binding to IRE1β disrupts IRE1β dimerization, thereby blocking its downstream endonuclease activity. Depletion of endogenous AGR2 from goblet cells induces spontaneous IRE1β activation, suggesting that alterations in AGR2 availability in the endoplasmic reticulum sets the threshold for IRE1β activation. We found that AGR2 mutants lacking their catalytic cysteine or displaying the disease-associated mutation H117Y were no longer able to dampen IRE1β activity. Collectively, these results demonstrate that AGR2 is a central chaperone regulating the goblet cell UPR by acting as a rheostat of IRE1β endonuclease activity.