Salubrinal
Encyclopedia
Salubrinal is a drug which acts as a specific inhibitor of eIF2α
EIF2S1
Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 subunit 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the EIF2S1 gene.-Function:The protein encoded by this gene is the alpha subunit of the translation initiation factor eIF2 complex which catalyzes the first regulated step of protein synthesis initiation,...

 phosphatase
Phosphatase
A phosphatase is an enzyme that removes a phosphate group from its substrate by hydrolysing phosphoric acid monoesters into a phosphate ion and a molecule with a free hydroxyl group . This action is directly opposite to that of phosphorylases and kinases, which attach phosphate groups to their...

 enzymes and is primarily used experimentally, to study stress responses in eukaryotic cell
Cell (biology)
The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all known living organisms. It is the smallest unit of life that is classified as a living thing, and is often called the building block of life. The Alberts text discusses how the "cellular building blocks" move to shape developing embryos....

s associated with the action of eIF2. Salbrinal indirectly inhibits eIF2 as a result of reduced dephosphorylation
Phosphorylation
Phosphorylation is the addition of a phosphate group to a protein or other organic molecule. Phosphorylation activates or deactivates many protein enzymes....

 of its α-subunit
Protein subunit
In structural biology, a protein subunit or subunit protein is a single protein molecule that assembles with other protein molecules to form a protein complex: a multimeric or oligomeric protein. Many naturally occurring proteins and enzymes are multimeric...

, resulting in activation of stress response pathways usually triggered by events such as oxidative stress
Oxidative stress
Oxidative stress represents an imbalance between the production and manifestation of reactive oxygen species and a biological system's ability to readily detoxify the reactive intermediates or to repair the resulting damage...

 or buildup of unfolded protein
Protein
Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...

 in the endoplasmic reticulum
Endoplasmic reticulum
The endoplasmic reticulum is an organelle of cells in eukaryotic organisms that forms an interconnected network of tubules, vesicles, and cisternae...

. Salubrinal has putative therapeutic value due to its function, but is as yet only used experimentally. Salubrinal is being studied at Indiana University for its potential to fight osteoporosis and accelerate bone healing.
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