Genotoxic and endoplasmic reticulum stresses differentially regulate TRB3 expression

TRB3 has recently been identified as a potential pro-apoptotic protein that may modulate the Akt/PKB-dependent signaling pathway. Here we report that TRB3 expression is strongly upregulated by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-inducing agents that (1) promote ER Ca2+ pool depletion or (2) disrupt protein trafficking. Genotoxic stress (DNA damage)-inducing agents, by contrast, downregulate TRB3 expression and appear to do so through both p53-dependent and -independent mechanisms. To the best of our knowledge, TRB3 is the first gene that is upregulated by ER stress and downregulated following genotoxic stress. Collectively, these findings highlight the importance of stress-specific signaling cascades as well as point out the seemingly divergent roles that TRB3 may play in the cellular stress response.