• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 2016

The peroxiredoxins (Prxs) constitute a very large and highly conserved family of thiol-based peroxidases that has been discovered only very recently. We consider here these enzymes through the angle of their discovery, and of some features of their molecular and physiological functions, focusing on complex phenotypes of the gene mutations of the 2-Cys Prxs subtype in yeast. As scavengers of the low levels of $H_2O_2$ and as $H_2O_2$ receptors and transducers, 2-Cys Prxs have been highly instrumental to understand the biological impact of $H_2O_2$, and in particular its signaling function. 2-Cys Prxs can also become potent chaperone holdases, and unveiling the in vivo relevance of this function, which is still not established, should further increase our knowledge of the biological impact and toxicity of $H_2O_2$. The diverse molecular functions of 2-Cys Prx explain the often-hard task of relating them to peroxiredoxin genes phenotypes, which underscores the pleiotropic physiological role of these enzymes and complex biologic impact of $H_2O_2$.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.1777-1783
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• 2010

Plants generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a by-product of normal aerobic metabolism or when exposed to a variety of stress conditions, which can cause widespread damage to biological macromolecules. To protect themselves from oxidative stress, plant cells are equipped with a wide range of antioxidant proteins. However, the detailed reaction mechanisms of these are still unknown. Peroxiredoxins (Prxs) are ubiquitous thiol-containing antioxidants that reduce hydrogen peroxide with an N-terminal cysteine. The active-site cysteine of peroxiredoxins is selectively oxidized to cysteine sulfinic acid during catalysis, which leads to inactivation of peroxidase activity. This oxidation was thought to be irreversible. Recently identified small protein sulphiredoxin (Srx1), which is conserved in higher eukaryotes, reduces cysteine.sulphinic acid in yeast peroxiredoxin. Srx1 is highly induced by $H_2O_2$-treatment and the deletion of its gene causes decreased yeast tolerance to $H_2O_2$, which suggest its involvement in the metabolism of oxidants. Moreover, Srx1 is required for heat shock and oxidative stress induced functional, as well as conformational switch of yeast cytosolic peroxiredoxins. This change enhances protein stability and peroxidase activity, indicating that Srx1 plays a crucial role in peroxiredoxin stability and its regulation mechanism. Thus, the understanding of the molecular basis of Srx1 and its regulation is critical for revealing the mechanism of peroxiredoxin action. We postulate here that Srx1 is involved in dealing with oxidative stress via controlling peroxiredoxin recycling in Arabidopsis. This review article thus will be describing the functions of Prxs and Srx in Arabidopsis thaliana. There will be a special focus on the possible role of Srx1 in interacting with and reducing hyperoxidized Cys-sulphenic acid of Prxs.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.12
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• pp.1071-1078
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• 2015

Superovulation induced by exogenous gonadotropin treatment (PMSG/hCG) increases the number of available oocytes in humans and animals. However, Superovulatory PMSG/hCG treatment is known to affect maternal environment, and these effects may result from PMSG/hCG treatment-induced oxidative stress. 2-Cys peroxiredoxins (2-Cys Prxs) act as antioxidant enzymes that protect cells from oxidative stress induced by various exogenous stimuli. Therefore, the objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that repeated PMSG/hCG treatment induces 2-Cys Prx expression and overoxidation in the reproductive tracts of female mice. Immunohistochemistry and western blotting analyses further demonstrated that, after PMSG/hCG treatment, the protein expression levels of 2-Cys Prxs increased most significantly in the ovaries, while that of Prx1 was most affected by PMSG/hCG stimulation in all tissues of the female reproductive tract. Repeated PMSG/hCG treatment eventually leads to 2-Cys Prxs overoxidation in all reproductive organs of female mice, and the abundance of the 2-Cys Prxs-$SO_{2/3}$ proteins reported here supports the hypothesis that repeated superovulation induces strong oxidative stress and damage to the female reproductive tract. Our data suggest that excessive oxidative stress caused by repeated PMSG/hCG stimulation increases 2-Cys Prxs expression and overoxidation in the female reproductive organs. Intracellular 2-Cys Prx therefore plays an important role in maintaining the reproductive organ environment of female mice upon exogenous gonadotropin treatment.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.36.1-36.16
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• 2021

Peroxiredoxins (Prxs) are ubiquitously expressed peroxidases that reduce hydrogen peroxide or alkyl peroxide production in cells. Prxs are released from cells in response to various stress conditions, and they function as damage-associated molecular pattern molecules. However, the secretory mechanism of Prxs and their roles have not been elucidated. Thus, we aimed to determine whether inflammasome activation is a secretory mechanism of Prxs and subsequently identify the effect of the secreted Prxs on activation of the classical complement pathway. Using J774A.1, a murine macrophage cell line, we demonstrated that NLRP3 inflammasome activation induces Prx1, Prx2, Prx5, and Prx6 secretion in a caspase-1 dependent manner. Using HEK293T cells with a transfection system, we revealed that the release of Prx1 and Prx2 relies on gasdermin-D (GSDMD)-mediated secretion. Next, we confirmed the binding of both Prx1 and Prx2 to C1q; however, only Prx2 could induce the C1q-mediated classical complement pathway activation. Collectively, our results suggest that inflammasome activation is a secretory mechanism of Prxs and that GSDMD is a mediator of their secretion. Moreover, secreted Prx1 and Prx2 bind with C1q, but only Prx2 mediates the classical complement pathway activation.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.16-23
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• 2005

Peroxiredoxins (Prxs) are a superfamily of thiol-specific antioxidant proteins present in all organism and involved in the hydroperoxide detoxification of the cell. To determine the structural organization of yeast-Prx, electron microscopic analysis was performed. The average images of yeast-Prxs revealed three different structure, i.e. spherical-shaped structure, ring-shaped structure and irregularly-shaped small particles. In order to analyze the conformational change of yeast-Prx by reduction and oxidation, Prxs were subjected to DTT and $H_2O_2$. In presence of DTT, yeast-Prx showed a high tendency to form a decamer. However, they changed into dimeric or spherical structure in the oxidized state. Here we also show ionic interaction between dimeric subunits is primarily responsible for yeast-Prx oligomerization.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Biotechnology Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.40-64
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• 2005

Much biochemical information on peroxiredoxins (Prxs) has been reported but a genuine physiological function for these proteins has not been established. We show here that two cytosolic yeast Prxs, cPrxI and II, exist in a variety of forms that differ in their structure and molecular weight (MW) and that they can act both as a peroxidase and as a molecular chaperone. The peroxidase function predominates in the lower MW proteins, whereas the chaperone function is more significant in the higher MW complexes. Oxidative stress and heat shock exposure of yeasts causesthe protein structures of cPrxI and II to shift from low MW species to high MW complexes. This triggers a peroxidase-to-chaperone functional switch. These in vivo changes are primarily guided by the active peroxidase site residue, $Cys^{47}$, which serves as an efficient $'H_2O_2-sensor'$ in the cells. The chaperone function of the proteins enhances yeast resistance to heat shock.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2016

Peroxiredoxins (Prxs) are a very large and highly conserved family of peroxidases that reduce peroxides, with a conserved cysteine residue, designated the "peroxidatic" Cys ($C_P$) serving as the site of oxidation by peroxides (Hall et al., 2011; Rhee et al., 2012). Peroxides oxidize the $C_P$-SH to cysteine sulfenic acid ($C_P$-SOH), which then reacts with another cysteine residue, named the "resolving" Cys ($C_R$) to form a disulfide that is subsequently reduced by an appropriate electron donor to complete a catalytic cycle. This overview summarizes the status of studies on Prxs and relates the following 10 minireviews.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2006

Peroxiredoxins (Prxs) are ubiquitously distributed and play important functions in diverse cellular signaling systems. The proteins are largely classified into three groups, such as typical 2-Cys Prx, atypical 2-Cys Prx, and 1-Cys Prx, that are distinguished by their catalytic mechanisms and number of Cys residues. From the three classes of Prxs, the typical 2-Cys Prx containing the two-conserved Cys residues at its N-terminus and C-terminus catalyzes $H_2O_2$ with the use of thioredoxin (Trx) as an electron donor. During the catalytic cycle, the N-terminal Cys residue undergoes a peroxide-dependent oxidation to sulfenic acid, which can be further oxidized to sulfinic acid at the presence of high concentrations of $H_2O_2$ and a Trx system containing Trx, Trx reductase, and NADPH. The sulfinic acid form of 2-Cys Prx is reduced by the action of sulfiredoxin which requires ATP as an energy source. Under the strong oxidative or heat shock stress conditions, 2-Cys Prx in eukaryotes rapidly switches its protein structure from low-molecular-weight species to high-molecular-weight protein structures. In accordance with its structural changes, the protein concomitantly triggers functional switching from a peroxidase to a molecular chaperone, which can protect its substrate denaturation from external stress. In addition to its N-terminal active site, the C-terminal domain including 'YF-motif' of 2-Cys Prx plays a critical role in the structural changes. Therefore, the C-terminal truncated 2-Cys Prxs are not able to regulate their protein structures and highly resistant to $H_2O_2$-dependent hyperoxidation, suggesting that the reaction is guided by the peroxidatic Cys residue. Based on the results, it may be concluded that the peroxidatic Cys of 2-Cys Prx acts as an '$H_2O_2$-sensor' in the cells. The oxidative stress-dependent regulation of 2-Cys Prx provides a means of defense systems in cells to adapt stress conditions by activating intracellular defense signaling pathways. Particularly, 2-Cys Prxs in plants are localized in chloroplasts with a dynamic protein structure. The protein undergoes conformational changes again oxidative stress. Depending on a redox-potential of the chloroplasts, the plant 2-Cys Prx forms super-molecular weight protein structures, which attach to the thylakoid membranes in a reversible manner.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.145-156
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• 2018

Most eukaryotic peroxiredoxins (Prxs) are readily inactivated by a high concentration of hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) during catalysis owing to their "GGLG" and "YF" motifs. However, such oxidative stress sensitive motifs were not found in the previously identified filamentous fungal Prxs. Additionally, the information on filamentous fungal Prxs is limited and fragmentary. Herein, we cloned and gained insight into Aspergillus nidulans Prx (An.PrxA) in the aspects of protein properties, catalysis characteristics, and especially $H_2O_2$ tolerability. Our results indicated that An.PrxA belongs to the newly defined family of typical 2-Cys Prxs with a marked characteristic that the "resolving" cysteine ($C_R$) is invertedly located preceding the "peroxidatic" cysteine ($C_P$) in amino acid sequences. The inverted arrangement of $C_R$ and $C_P$ can only be found among some yeast, bacterial, and filamentous fungal deduced Prxs. The most surprising characteristic of An.PrxA is its extraordinary ability to resist inactivation by extremely high concentrations of $H_2O_2$, even that approaching 600 mM. By screening the $H_2O_2$-inactivation effects on the components of Prx systems, including Trx, Trx reductase (TrxR), and Prx, we ultimately determined that it is the robust filamentous fungal TrxR rather than Trx and Prx that is responsible for the extreme $H_2O_2$ tolerence of the An.PrxA system. This is the first investigation on the effect of the electron donor partner in the $H_2O_2$ tolerability of the Prx system.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.31-42
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• 2005

Background : Peroxiredoxins (Prxs) are a relatively newly recognized, novel family of peroxidases that reduce $H_2O_2$ and alkylhydroperoxide into water and alcohol, respectively. There are 6 known isoforms of Prxs present in human cells. Normally, Prxs exist in a head-to-tail homodimeric state in a reduced form. However, in the presence of excess $H_2O_2$, it can be oxidized on its catalytically active cysteine site into inactive oxidized forms. This study surveyed the types of the Prx isoforms present in the pulmonary epithelial, macrophage, endothelial, and other cell lines and observed their response to oxidative stress. Methods : This study examined the effect of exogenous, excess $H_2O_2$ on the Prxs of established cell lines originating from the pulmonary epithelium, macrophages, and other cell lines, which are known to be exposed to high oxygen partial pressures or are believed to be subject to frequent oxidative stress, using non-reducing SDS polyacrylamide electrophoresis (PAGE) and 2 dimensional electrophoresis. Result : The addition of excess $H_2O_2$ to the culture media of the various cell-lines caused the immediate inactivation of Prxs, as evidenced by their inability to form dimers by a disulfide cross linkage. This was detected as a subsequent shift to its monomeric forms on the non-reducing SDS PAGE. These findings were further confirmed by 2 dimensional electrophoresis and immunoblot analysis by a shift toward a more acidic isoelectric point (pI). However, the subsequent reappearance of the dimeric Prxs with a comparable, corresponding decrease in the monomeric bands was noted on the non-reducing SDS PAGE as early as 30 minutes after the $H_2O_2$ treatment suggesting regeneration after oxidation. The regenerated dimers can again be converted to the inactivated form by a repeated $H_2O_2$ treatment, indicating that the protein is still catalytically active. The recovery of Prxs to the original dimeric state was not inhibited by a pre-treatment with cycloheximide, nor by a pretreatment with inhibitors of protein synthesis, which suggests that the reappearance of dimers occurs via a regeneration process rather than via the de novo synthesis of the active protein. Conclusion : The cells, in general, appeared to be equipped with an established system for regenerating inactivated Prxs, and this system may function as a molecular "on-off switch" in various oxidative signal transduction processes. The same mechanisms might applicable other proteins associated with signal transduction where the active catalytic site cysteines exist.