The Drosophila CEBPG homolog Irbp18 partners with crc (ATF4) to mediate the integrated stress response in degenerative disease models

The integrated stress response (ISR) coordinates cellular adaptation to diverse stress conditions. In Drosophila , two bZIP transcription factors, Xrp1 and crc (ATF4 homolog), are induced during ISR. Crc protein can dimerize with two CEBP factors in vitro , but the in vivo relevance of those interactions remained unknown. Here, we report that the CEBPG homolog, Irbp18 , is an essential partner of crc during ISR. Specifically, Irbp18 is broadly required for the transcriptional induction of ISR target genes in the photoreceptors of ninaE G69D , a Drosophila model of retinitis pigmentosa. Moreover, CUT&RUN analysis indicates that Irbp18 loss reduces or abolishes crc binding to target DNAs in photoreceptors and impairs crc's ability to induce target transcripts upon overexpression. Functionally, Irbp18 loss causes retinal degeneration and suppresses ISR signaling in parkin mutants, a model of Parkinson's disease. Together, these findings identify Irbp18 as a cofactor for crc, impacting pathological outcomes in Drosophila models of degeneration.