• BMB Reports
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.234-241
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• 2000

A new type of the human TSA homologous gene was cloned from a HeLa cell cDNA and characterized. The gene product consists of 161 amino acids with a molecular mass of 16,900. The TSA homologous protein, as a new 6th member of the human TSA (hTSA VI), exerted a thioldependent peroxidase activity with the use of thioredoxin system as a physiological electron donor. The values of $V_{max}/K_m$ of hTSA VI for $H_2O_2$ and t-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BOOH) were calculated as $5.53{\times}10^{-2}$ and $3.70{\times}10^{-2}$, respectively. This implies that hTSA VI is a peroxidase, which reduces $H_2O_2$ and t-BOOH. The mutation of $Cys^{47}$ to serine resulted in a complete loss of the peroxidase activity. This suggests that $Cys^{47}$ acts as a primary site of catalysis. The analysis of the tryptic digest derived from hTSA VI revealed that the $Cys^{47}$ exists as a free thiol form. Taken together, these results suggest that the TSA homologous protein is a new type of the human family, which exerts thioredoxin-linked peroxidase activity toward $H_2O_2$ and alkyl hydroperoxide.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.113-118
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• 2006

Thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), a component of the redox control system involving thioredoxin (Trx), is implicated in defense against oxidative stress, control of cell growth and proliferation, and regulation of apoptosis. In the present study a stable transfectant was made by introducing the vector pcDNA3.0 harboring the fission yeast TrxR gene into COS-7 African green monkey kidney fibroblast cells. The exogenous TrxR gene led to an increase in TrxR activity of up to 3.2-fold but did not affect glutathione (GSH) content, or glutaredoxin and caspase-3 activities. Levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), but not those of nitric oxide (NO), were reduced. Conversely, 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobezene (CDNB), an irreversible inhibitor of mammalian TrxR, enhanced ROS levels in the COS-7 cells. After treatment with hydrogen peroxide, the level of intracellular ROS was lower in the transfectants than in the vector control cells. These results confirm that TrxR is a crucial determinant of the level of cellular ROS during oxidative stress as well as in the normal state.

• BMB Reports
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.166-171
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• 2000

Thioredoxin is a multifunctional protein that is ubiquitous in microorganisms, animals and plants. Previously, the expression of the Escherichia coli thioredoxin gene (trxA) was found to be negatively regulated by cAMP. In the present study, the effect of temperature on the expression of the E. coli trxA gene was investigated. In order to examine the temperature effect, the fusion plasmid pCL70 that harbors the E. coli trxA P1P2 promoter was used. The other two fusion plasmids, pJH3 and pMH521 that were constructed in different vectors which harbor the E. coli trxA P2 promoter, were also used. When the E. coli strain MC1061/pCL70 was grown in a rich medium at $25^{\circ}C$, $34^{\circ}C$ and $42^{\circ}C$, the cells grown at $42^{\circ}C$ gave the highest $\beta$-galactosidase activity. The E. coli MC1061/pJH3 and MC1061/pMG521 cells showed increased $\beta$-galactosidase activity after the shift of the culture temperature to $42^{\circ}C$. The wild-type trxA gene of the E. coli MC1061 cells produced much higher thioredoxin activity at the higher temperature. These results support the conclusion that the E. coli trxA gene is regulated in a temperature-dependent manner. Especially the expression from its P2 promoter appeared to be sensitive to temperature.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.187-194
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• 2015

Thioredoxin (TRX) is a disulfide reductase present ubiquitously in all taxa and plays an important role as a regulator of cellular redox state. Recently, a redox-independent, chaperone function has also been reported for some thioredoxins. We previously identified nodulin-35, the subunit of soybean uricase, as an interacting target of a cytosolic soybean thioredoxin, GmTRX. Here we report the further characterization of the interaction, which turns out to be independent of the disulfide reductase function and results in the co-localization of GmTRX and nodulin-35 in peroxisomes, suggesting a possible function of GmTRX in peroxisomes. In addition, the chaperone function of GmTRX was demonstrated in in vitro molecular chaperone activity assays including the thermal denaturation assay and malate dehydrogenase aggregation assay. Our results demonstrate that the target of GmTRX is not only confined to the nodulin-35, but many other peroxisomal proteins, including catalase (AtCAT), transthyretin-like protein 1 (AtTTL1), and acyl-coenzyme A oxidase 4 (AtACX4), also interact with the GmTRX. Together with an increased uricase activity of nodulin-35 and reduced ROS accumulation observed in the presence of GmTRX in our results, especially under heat shock and oxidative stress conditions, it appears that GmTRX represents a novel thioredoxin that is co-localized to the peroxisomes, possibly providing functional integrity to peroxisomal proteins.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.650-659
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• 1999

Background/Aims: It is well recognized that all aerobic cells have the protective mechanisms in order to minimize the tissue damage induced by various reactive oxygen species(ROS). Thioredoxin peroxidase(TPX) which has been recently identified and characterized functions to convert peroxide to water. The protein is also found in various subtypes(TPX-A & B, MER5, HS22 and HORF-06) and is known to be ubiquitous in most human cells. Especially, ischemic brain injuries, partial hepatectomy and radiation induced DNA damages. In treating lung cancer, radiation therapy has a major place in the local control and the relief of symptoms, but radiation induced free radical injury and resulting pulmonary fibrosis has been the major drawback of the therapy. However, little is known about the protective mechanisms and biologic modulations against radiation-induced tissue damages. Methods: Eighteen mice were divided into six groups, 3 in each group, and fifteen had received 900cGy of radiation. The mice were sacrificed according to the pre determined time schedule; immediate, 1, 2, 3 and 6 weeks after irradiation. Extracts were made from the lungs of each mice, Western blot analysis of various subtypes of TPX were done after SDS-P AGE. Examination of H & E stained slides from the same irradiated specimens and the control specimens were also performed. Results: No difference in the intensity of the immunoreactive bands in the irradiated lung samples of the mice compared to the unirradiated control was observed regardless of the time intervals, although H & E examination of the sample specimens demonstrated progressive fibrotic changes of the irradiated lung samples. Conclusion: In conclusion, according to our data, it is suggested that various thioredoxin peroxidase subtypes and catalase which are known to be increased in many repair processes may not be involved in the repair of the radiation injury to the lung and subsequent fibrosis.

• BMB Reports
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.554-559
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• 1998

Activities of glutathione- and thioredoxin-related enzymes and phenylpropanoid-synthesizing enzymes were measured and compared in the developing leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana. Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity is maximal in the leaves of 2-wk-grown Arabidopsis. Tyrosine ammonia-lyase activity is maximal in the leaves of 3-wk-grown and 4-wk-grown Arabidopsis. Activity of thioitransferase, an enzyme involved in the reduction of various disulfide compounds, is higher in younger leaves than in older ones. A similar pattern was obtained in the activity of thioredoxin, a small protein known as a cofactor of ribonucleotide reductase and a regulator of photosynthesis. Activity of glutathione reductase is also higher in the younger leaves. Malate debydrogenase activity remains relatively constant during the development of Arabidopsis leaves. The results offer preliminary information for further approach to elucidate the mechanism of growth-dependent variations of these enzymes.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.65-71
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• 2016

A challenge in the redox field is the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms, by which $H_2O_2$ mediates signal transduction in cells. This is relevant since redox pathways are disturbed in some pathologies. The transcription factor OxyR is the $H_2O_2$ sensor in bacteria, whereas Cys-based peroxidases are involved in the perception of this oxidant in eukaryotic cells. Three possible mechanisms may be involved in $H_2O_2$ signaling that are not mutually exclusive. In the simplest pathway, $H_2O_2$ signals through direct oxidation of the signaling protein, such as a phosphatase or a transcription factor. Although signaling proteins are frequently observed in the oxidized state in biological systems, in most cases their direct oxidation by $H_2O_2$ is too slow ($10^1M^{-1}s^{-1}$ range) to outcompete Cys-based peroxidases and glutathione. In some particular cellular compartments (such as vicinity of NADPH oxidases), it is possible that a signaling protein faces extremely high $H_2O_2$ concentrations, making the direct oxidation feasible. Alternatively, high $H_2O_2$ levels can hyperoxidize peroxiredoxins leading to local building up of $H_2O_2$ that then could oxidize a signaling protein (floodgate hypothesis). In a second model, $H_2O_2$ oxidizes Cys-based peroxidases that then through thiol-disulfide reshuffling would transmit the oxidized equivalents to the signaling protein. The third model of signaling is centered on the reducing substrate of Cys-based peroxidases that in most cases is thioredoxin. Is this model, peroxiredoxins would signal by modulating the thioredoxin redox status. More kinetic data is required to allow the identification of the complex network of thiol switches.

• BMB Reports
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.278-283
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• 2001

Antioxidant and redox enzyme activities are known to be involved in the cellular responses to various stresses. Their variations were observed according to the growth cycle of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Peroxidase activity appeared to be notably higher in the early exponential phase than in the mid-exponential and stationary phases. However, catalase activity showed a variation pattern resembling the growth curve. Glutathione S-transferase activity was higher in the early exponential and late stationary phases. Activities of the two redox enzymes, thioredoxin and thioltransferase (glutaredoxin), were high in the stationary phase. However, their activities appeared to increase from the early exponential to mid-exponential phase. Total glutathione content had a varying pattern similar to that of thioredoxin and thioltransferase. However, its content in the early exponential phase was high. These results propose that antioxidant and redox enzymes tested are also involved in the mechanism of cell growth.

• BMB Reports
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.550-554
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• 2005

YKR049C is a mitochondrial protein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that is conserved among yeast species, including Candida albicans. However, no biological function for YKR049C has been ascribed based on its primary sequence information. In the present study, NMR spectroscopy was used to determine the putative biological function of YKR049C based on its solution structure. YKR049C shows a well-defined thioredoxin fold with a unique insertion of helices between two $\beta$-strands. The central $\beta$-sheet divides the protein into two parts; a unique face and a conserved face. The 'unique face' is located between ${\beta}2$ and ${\beta}3$. Interestingly, the sequences most conserved among YKR049C families are found on this 'unique face', which incorporates L109 to E114. The side chains of these conserved residues interact with residues on the helical region with a stretch of hydrophobic surface. A putative active site composed by two short helices and a single Cys97 was also well observed. Our findings suggest that YKR049C is a redox protein with a thioredoxin fold containing a single active cysteine.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.1065-1072
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• 2005

The nascent thyroglobulin (Tg) multimer molecule, which is generated during the initial fate of Tg in ER, undergoes the rapid reductive depolymerization. In an attempt to determine the depolymerization process, various types of Tg multimers, which were generated from deoxy­cholate-treated/reduced Tg, partially unfolded Tg or partially unfolded/reduced Tg, were subjected to various GSH (reduced glutathione) reducing systems using protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), glutathione reductase (GR), glutaredoxin or thioredoxin reductase. The Tg multimers generated from deoxycholate-treated/reduced Tg were depolymerized readily by the PDI/GSH system, which is consistent with the reductase activity of PDI. The PDI/GSH-induced depolymerization of the Tg multimers, which were generated from either partially unfolded Tg or partially unfolded/reduced Tg, required the simultaneous inclusion of glutathione reductase, which is capable of reducing glutathionylated mixed disulfide (PSSG). This suggests that PSSG was generated during the Tg multimerization stage or its depolymerization stage. In particular, the thioredoxin/thioredoxin reductase system or glutaredoxin system was also effective in depolymerizing the Tg multimers generated from the unfolded Tg. Overall, under the net GSH condition, the depolymerization of Tg multimers might be mediated by PDI, which is assisted by other reductive enzymes, and the mechanism for depolymerizing the Tg multimers differs according to the type of Tg multimer containing different degrees and types of disulfide linkages.