Salicylates trigger protein synthesis inhibition in a protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase-dependent manner

Aristobolo M Silva, Die Wang, Anton A Komar, Beatriz A Castilho, Bryan Raymond George Williams

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

29 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug aspirin and its metabolite, sodium salicylate, have profound effects on cellular protein synthesis and cell physiology. However, the underlying mechanism by which they cause these responses remains unclear. We show here that salicylates induce phosphorylation of the alpha-subunit of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 (eIF2alpha), resulting in the inhibition of mRNA translation in cells. Exposure of cells to acetyl salicylic acid resulted in strong activation of eIF2alpha stress-activated protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK). Analysis of fibroblasts with a targeted deletion of the perk gene revealed that PERK is indispensable for triggering the phosphorylation of eIF2alpha as well as the inhibition of protein synthesis induced by salicylates. Although salicylate treatment did not trigger activation of inositol-requiring enzyme 1, there was an increased expression of the pro-apoptotic transcription factor CHOP-(gadd153), a downstream event to eIF2alpha phosphorylation known to mediate endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated responses. Thus, salicylates selectively trigger an endoplasmic reticulum stress-responsive signaling pathway initiated through activation of PERK to induce their cellular effects.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)10164 - 10171
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry
Volume282
Issue number14
Publication statusPublished - 2007

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