Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 10, 2026

Measuring Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Unfolded Protein Response in HIV-1 Infected T-Cells and Analyzing its Role in HIV-1 Replication
Published on: June 14, 2024
The eIF2α/ATF4 pathway is essential for stress-induced autophagy gene expression
Wafa B'chir1, Anne-Catherine Maurin, Valérie Carraro
1INRA, UMR 1019 Nutrition Humaine, Centre de Clermont-Ferrand-Theix, F-63122 Saint Genès Champanelle, France and Université Clermont 1, UFR Médecine, UMR 1019 Nutrition Humaine, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
Abstract:
In response to different environmental stresses, eIF2α phosphorylation represses global translation coincident with preferential translation of ATF4, a master regulator controlling the transcription of key genes essential for adaptative functions. Here, we establish that the eIF2α/ATF4 pathway directs an autophagy gene transcriptional program in response to amino acid starvation or endoplasmic reticulum stress. The eIF2α-kinases GCN2 and PERK and the transcription factors ATF4 and CHOP are also required to increase the transcription of a set of genes implicated in the formation, elongation and function of the autophagosome. We also identify three classes of autophagy genes according to their dependence on ATF4 and CHOP and the binding of these factors to specific promoter cis elements. Furthermore, different combinations of CHOP and ATF4 bindings to target promoters allow the trigger of a differential transcriptional response according to the stress intensity. Overall, this study reveals a novel regulatory role of the eIF2α-ATF4 pathway in the fine-tuning of the autophagy gene transcription program in response to stresses.
Related Concept Videos
The Unfolded Protein Response
Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy
Autophagy
An autophagic pathway consists of a series of signaling events activated in response to diverse stress and physiological conditions such as food deprivation,...
Regulation of the Unfolded Protein Response
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mTOR pathway or the...
PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway

