Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) stress refers to a condition where the folding capacity of the ER is overwhelmed, leading to the accumulation of misfolded or unfolded proteins. This stress can activate a cellular response known as the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR), which aims to restore normal function by halting protein translation, degrading misfolded proteins, and activating signaling pathways that lead to increased production of molecular chaperones.
