Molecular Chaperone ERp29: A Potential Target for Cellular Protection in Retinal and Neurodegenerative Diseases

The molecular chaperone endoplasmic reticulum protein 29 (ERp29) plays a critical role in protein folding, trafficking, and secretion. Though ubiquitously expressed, ERp29 is upregulated in response to ER stress and is found at higher levels in certain cell types such as secretory epithelial cells and neurons. As an ER resident protein, ERp29 shares many structural and functional similarities with protein disulfide isomerases, but is not regarded as part of this family due to several key differences. The broad expression and myriad roles of ERp29 coupled with its upregulation via the unfolded protein response (UPR) upon ER stress have implicated ERp29 in a range of cellular processes and diseases. We summarize the diverse activities of ERp29 in protein trafficking, cell survival and apoptosis, and ER homeostasis and highlight a potential role of ERp29 in neuroprotection in retinal and neurodegenerative diseases.