Characterization of Haemophilus influenzae Peroxiredoxins

Two open reading frames of Haemophilus influenzae, HI0572 and HI0751, showing homology to a yeast thioredoxin peroxidase II (TPx II) and an E. coli thiol peroxidase $P_{20}$, respectively, were cloned and expressed in E. coli, and then the proteins were subsequently purified and characterized. HI0751 protein showed the thioredoxin (Trx)-dependent peroxidase activity, whereas HI0572 protein showed glutathione-dependent peroxidase. The HI0572 is the first peroxiredoxin with glutathione peroxidase activity rather than thioredoxin peroxidase. Purified HI0572 and HI0751 proteins protected specifically the inactivation of glutamine synthetase by metal catalyzed oxidation (MCO) systems composed of $Fe^{3+}$, $O_2$ and mercaptans such as dithiothreitol, ${\beta}-mercaptoethanol$ and glutathione (GSH). Unlike the HI0751 protein, the HI0572 protein was more effective in protecting glutamine synthetase from inactivation by the $GSH/Fe^{3+}/O_2$ system. It seems that these unique properties of the HI0572 protein are due to the structure containing a glutaredoxin domain at it's C-terminal in addition to a peroxiredoxin domain.