Endoplasmic reticulum stress response element (ERSE)

Endoplasmic reticulum stress response elements (ERSEs) are consensus DNA motifs in the promoters of target genes that mediate transcriptional activation during the ER stress (unfolded protein) response[5][3]. Classic ERSEs (consensus: CCAAT-N9-CCACG) are recognized by activated ATF6 and XBP1 transcription factors, often in cooperation with the general transcription factor NF-Y[5][3]. Related motifs include ERSE-II (ATTGG-N-CCACG) and UPRE (TGACGTGG/A), which also mediate ER stress-induced gene expression. These DNA elements enable cells to upregulate chaperones and ER quality control machinery to restore protein folding homeostasis under stress conditions. ERSE-bearing genes are crucial for adapting to stress and are implicated in various diseases where ER dysfunction is central, but ERSE as a DNA sequence is not a direct therapeutic target[3][5].

Other names

ERSE (endoplasmic reticulum stress response element)ERSE-IIUPRE (unfolded protein response element)

N/A (not a drug target); transcription factors like ATF6 and XBP1 bind ERSEs to activate stress response genes