GRP78: Protein Type

Immunofluorescent detection of GRP78 in mouse fibroblast cells using using Anti-GRP78 (3C5-1A4) monoclonal antibody at 1:100
Similar to many other chaperones, Grp78/BiP is a phosphoprotein 41 whose expression and function can be further modulated by co- and post-translational modifications such as methylation 42, 43, AMPylation 44, acetylation 45, O-glycosylation 46, ADP-ribosylation 47 and SUMOylation 48. To what extent phosphorylation especially affects the molecular or biological functions of the chaperone is still unclear. Already in 1992, the group of Linda Hendershot described the existence of three interconvertible forms of Grp78/BiP: (i) associated with adapter proteins; (ii) as a free unmodified monomer; or (iii) as a free modified homo-oligomer 49. This study clearly demonstrated that free Grp78/BiP primarily exists as homo-oligomer in non-induced cells while in induced cells the monomeric form of free Grp78/BiP predominates. Moreover, ADP-ribosylation and phosphorylation of Grp78/Bip have been found exclusively in unconjugated oligomeric species. Post-translational modifications of the complexed monomeric species can occur after the dissociation of adapter proteins 49.