What is the unfolded protein response (UPR)?
The UPR is a conserved signaling cascade that exists in every cell and is in charge of telling the cell whether or not there is stress in a critical organelle called the “endoplasmic reticulum”. The endoplasmic reticulum is an essential place in the cell where all the synthesis and processing of important proteins happens. If there is stress in the endoplasmic reticulum, the UPR takes measures to correct this stress. We have been studying the UPR for the past 15 years, but it is only recently that it has been linked to many diseases. We are interested in understanding how the regulation of the UPR contributes to the pathogenesis of cancer, and in particular multiple myeloma. What is the connection that the UPR has with multiple myeloma? Multiple myeloma is a very rare blood disease that arises from antibody-secreting plasma cells. Plasma cells are responsible for making antibodies that travel around the body fighting infection; the production of antibodies is a very demanding process t
