Phosphorylation of eIF2α via the general control kinase, GCN2, modulates the ability of renal medullary cells to survive high urea stress

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

The phosphorylation of the α-subunit of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 (eIF2 α) occurs under many stress conditions in mammalian cells and is mediated by one of four eIF2 α kinases: PERK, PKR, GCN2, and HRI. Cells of the renal medulla are regularly exposed to fluctuating concentrations of urea and sodium, the extracellular solutes responsible for the high osmolality in the renal medulla, and thus the kidneys ability to concentrate the urine in times of dehydration. Urea stress is known to initiate molecular responses that diverge from those seen in response to hypertonic stress (NaCl). We show that urea-inducible GCN2 activation initiates the phosphorylation of eIF2 α and the downstream increase of activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3). Loss of GCN2 sensitized cells to urea stress, increasing the expression of activated caspase-3 and decreasing cell survival. Loss of GCN2 ablated urea-induced phosphorylation of eIF2 α and reduced the expression of ATF3.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)F1202-F1207
JournalAmerican Journal of Physiology - Renal Physiology
Volume301
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2011

Keywords

  • Activating transcription factor 3
  • Collecting duct
  • Osmotic stress

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Urology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Phosphorylation of eIF2α via the general control kinase, GCN2, modulates the ability of renal medullary cells to survive high urea stress'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this