X box binding protein 1 (XBP-1) is a key protein in the mammalian unfolded protein response (UPR) that protects the cell against the stress of malfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Upon sensing unfolded proteins, an ER transmembrane endonuclease and kinase termed IRE1p is activated and excises an intron from XBP-1 mRNA. The spliced XBP-1 mRNA results in a 371 amino acid protein (XBP-1s) which is then translocated to the nucleus where it binds to the regulatory elements of downstream genes. Together with other UPR transcription factors such as ATF6, XBP-1 stimulates the production of ER stress proteins including the ER resident protein chaperones glucose regulated protein (GRP) 78 and GRP94.
