# ATF6 is Required for ANP Secretion from the Heart

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA · 2022 · $383,750

## Abstract

Project Summary
ER protein misfolding is sensed in the rough ER by ATF6, which is expressed in all mammalian cells. We
previously showed that in ventricular myocytes, in vivo, ischemia causes ER protein misfolding, which is
sensed by ATF6, converting it to a transcription factor that induces antioxidant genes that were not known to
be ATF6-regulated in any cell type. Our objective here is to study a new role for ATF6 as a critical element in
regulated secretion, focusing on atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), a peptide hormone made in the ER of atrial
myocytes. Neither the function of ATF6 in the atria, nor its role in regulated hormone secretion has been
studied. Therefore, this proposal addresses a novel role for ATF6 as a linchpin in regulated hormone secretion
using a cardiac model system that we call the ATF6-ANP axis. Our preliminary data showed that under non-
stressed conditions, in contrast to ventricular cell and tissue, activated ATF6 was found in atrial cell and tissue,
even in the absence of ER stress. While activated ATF6 did not increase ANP gene expression in the atria, it
was required for ANP secretion from atrial myocytes. Mechanistically, we found that ATF6 induced several
secretory pathway proteins that were not previously known to be ATF6-regulated and have not been studied in
the heart, including the SNARE protein, SNAP23. SNAP23 is known to enhance granule docking and secretion
in other cell types. Based on this background and preliminary data, our hypothesis is that ATF6 is essential
for the secretion and beneficial cardiovascular (CV) effects of ANP. SNAP23 is a mechanistic link between
ATF6 and regulated ANP secretion. We will address this hypothesis in three specific aims, which are to: 1-
examine the effects of AAV9- and small molecule-based ATF6 gain-of-function, and conditional ATF6 gene
deletion maneuvers on ANP secretion from atrial myocytes and mouse hearts, 2-determine how ATF6 gain-
and loss-of-function affects plasma ANP and hemodynamic parameters in mouse models of dietary high-salt-
induced hypertension and pressure overload-induced heart failure, and 3-define the mechanistic role of the
ATF6-inducible secretory granule docking protein, SNAP23, in ANP secretion from cultured atrial myocytes
and mouse hearts.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10065015
- **Project number:** 5R01HL141463-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
- **Principal Investigator:** Chris Glembotski
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $383,750
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-12-15 → 2023-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10065015

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10065015, ATF6 is Required for ANP Secretion from the Heart (5R01HL141463-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10065015. Licensed CC0.

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