Activation of the UPR sensor ATF6α is regulated by its redox-dependent dimerization and ER retention by ERp18

SignificanceMembrane and secretory proteins are synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Perturbations to ER function disrupts protein folding, causing misfolded proteins to accumulate, a condition known as ER stress. Cells adapt to stress by activating the unfolded protein response (UPR), which ultimately restores proteostasis. A key player in the UPR response is ATF6α, which requires release from ER retention and modulation of its redox status during activation. Here, we report that ER stress promotes formation of a specific ATF6α dimer, which is preferentially trafficked to the Golgi for processing. We show that ERp18 regulates ATF6α by mitigating its dimerization and trafficking to the Golgi and identify redox-dependent oligomerization of ATF6α as a key mechanism regulating its function during the UPR.