Glutathione directly reduces an oxidoreductase in the endoplasmic reticulum of mammalian cells

Jessop, C.E. and Bulleid, N.J. (2004) Glutathione directly reduces an oxidoreductase in the endoplasmic reticulum of mammalian cells. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 279(53), pp. 55341-55347. (doi: 10.1074/jbc.M411409200)

Full text not currently available from Enlighten.

Abstract

The formation of disulfide bonds is an essential step in the folding of many glycoproteins and secretory proteins. Non-native disulfide bonds are often formed between incorrect cysteine residues, and thus the cell has dedicated a family of oxidoreductases that are thought to isomerize non-native bonds. For an oxidoreductase to be capable of performing isomerization or reduction reactions, it must be maintained in a reduced state. Here we show that most of the oxidoreductases are predominantly reduced in vivo. Following oxidative stress the oxidoreductases are quickly reduced, demonstrating that a robust reductive pathway is in place in mammalian cells. Using ERp57 as a model we show that the reductive pathway is cytosol-dependent and that the component responsible for the reduction of the oxidoreductases is the low molecular mass thiol glutathione. In addition, ERp57 is not reduced following oxidative stress when inhibitors of glutathione synthesis or glutathione reduction are added to cells. Glutathione directly reduces ERp57 at physiological concentrations in vitro, and biotinylated glutathione forms a mixed disulfide with ERp57 in microsomes. Our results demonstrate that glutathione plays a direct role in the isomerization of disulfide bonds by maintaining the mammalian oxidoreductases in a reduced state.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Bulleid, Professor Neil
Authors: Jessop, C.E., and Bulleid, N.J.
Subjects:Q Science > QH Natural history > QH345 Biochemistry
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Molecular Biosciences
Journal Name:Journal of Biological Chemistry
Journal Abbr.:J Biol Chem.
Publisher:American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.
ISSN:0021-9258
ISSN (Online):1083-351X
Published Online:26 October 2004

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record