Disulfide Bonds In Substrate Proteins Research Articles

Protein Disulfide Isomerase Negatively Regulates Platelet Function through Modulation of the Thromboxane A2 Receptor

Protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) is an intracellular oxidoreductase that cleaves and forms disulfide bonds in substrate proteins to facilitate their proper folding. However, platelets and endothelium release PDI upon vascular injury. This extracellular PDI serves a critical function in platelet activation and thrombus formation. A PDI antagonist is currently in phase II/III clinical trials for thrombosis prevention. Yet the mechanisms of how PDI enables platelets to respond to the local redox environment remain poorly understood. In particular, the substrates on which PDI acts to modify platelet function have yet to be elucidated.To identify platelet receptors that are controlled by PDI, we evaluated the ability of PDI to modify the effect of different platelet agonists on a platelet aggregation. Recombinant PDI (rPDI) had no effect on platelet aggregation induced by a dose curve of a PAR1 activating peptide, a PAR4 activating peptide, thrombin, collagen, or epinephrine. Unexpectedly, rPDI markedly inhibited aggregation induced by the stable thromboxane A2 analog U46619 (13.8±5.6% of control). In contrast, ERp57, a related thiol isomerase, had little effect and a mutant PDI that lacks the active site cysteines responsible for disulfide bond rearrangement failed to inhibit U46619-induced platelet aggregation, implicating disulfide bond rearrangement. rPDI also blocked U46619-induced dense granule secretion (15.0±5.5% of control), α-granule secretion (24.4±0.1% of control) and α2β3 activation (65.0±0.1% of control). Conversely, inhibition of endogenous PDI augmented U46619-mediated platelet activation. To confirm that PDI was acting upstream in the U46619 activation pathway, we evaluated proximal signaling events. rPDI significantly decreased U46619-induced p38 MAPK phosphorylation in both platelets and HEK cells overexpressing the thromboxane prostanoid (TP) receptor, indicating inhibition of Gα12/13 pathways. In contrast, there was little inhibition of Ca2+ flux, indicating lack of inhibition of Gαq-mediated signaling. These results suggest the presence of a functional disulfide bond within the TP receptor that is sensitive to PDI and required for Gα12/13 signaling.Evaluation of the amino sequence of the TP receptor demonstrates two cysteines, Cys-105 in the extracellular loop I and Cys-183 in the extracellular loop II, that form a disulfide bond and may be modified by redox environment. To determine if the platelet TP receptor is sensitive to modification of redox environment, we evaluated U46619-induced signaling in the presence of GSH and GSSG. Incubation with >0.25 mM GSH reduced U46619-induced platelet aggregation to 11.0±0.6% of control, whereas GSSG did not alter platelet aggregation in response to U46619. These results indicate a functional disulfide bond in the TP receptor that responds to changes in redox environment.Evaluation of additional agonists demonstrated that ADP-induced aggregation was sensitive to rPDI. rPDI did not affect the initial response to 3.5 μM ADP, but completely abrogated the secondary wave of aggregation. This defect in the secondary wave could be overcome by using 5 μM ADP, thus suggesting impaired endogenous ADP release. Indeed, rPDI blocked dense granule release even in response to 5 μM ADP. This result is consistent with the known reliance of dense granule release on TP stimulation and suggests that the negative regulation of PDI on ADP-induced platelet activation is secondary to the inhibition of PDI on the TP receptor.These are the first studies to our knowledge that demonstrate the ability of a thiol isomerase to modulate the function of a G-protein coupled receptor via disulfide bond rearrangement. This mechanism could provide a means to modify signaling through the TP receptor in respond to changes in redox environment. DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Metabolism of long-chain fatty acids affects disulfide bond formation in Escherichia coli and activates envelope stress response pathways as a combat strategy.

The envelope of gram-negative bacteria serves as the first line of defense against environmental insults. Therefore, its integrity is continuously monitored and maintained by several envelope stress response (ESR) systems. Due to its oxidizing environment, the envelope represents an important site for disulfide bond formation. In Escherichia coli, the periplasmic oxidoreductase, DsbA introduces disulfide bonds in substrate proteins and transfers electrons to the inner membrane oxidoreductase, DsbB. Under aerobic conditions, the reduced form of DsbB is re-oxidized by ubiquinone, an electron carrier in the electron transport chain (ETC). Given the critical role of ubiquinone in transferring electrons derived from the oxidation of reduced cofactors, we were intrigued whether metabolic conditions that generate a large number of reduced cofactors render ubiquinone unavailable for disulfide bond formation. To test this, here we investigated the influence of metabolism of long-chain fatty acid (LCFA), an energy-rich carbon source, on the redox state of the envelope. We show that LCFA degradation increases electron flow in the ETC. Further, whereas cells metabolizing LCFAs exhibit characteristics of insufficient disulfide bond formation, these hallmarks are averted in cells exogenously provided with ubiquinone. Importantly, the ESR pathways, Cpx and σE, are activated by envelope signals generated during LCFA metabolism. Our results argue that Cpx is the primary ESR that senses and maintains envelope redox homeostasis. Amongst the two ESRs, Cpx is induced to a greater extent by LCFAs and senses redox-dependent signal. Further, ubiquinone accumulation during LCFA metabolism is prevented in cells lacking Cpx response, suggesting that Cpx activation helps maintain redox homeostasis by increasing the oxidizing power for disulfide bond formation. Taken together, our results demonstrate an intricate relationship between cellular metabolism and disulfide bond formation dictated by ETC and ESR, and provide the basis for examining whether similar mechanisms control envelope redox status in other gram-negative bacteria.

Identification of Redox Partners of the Thiol-Disulfide Oxidoreductase SdbA in Streptococcus gordonii.

We previously identified a novel thiol-disulfide oxidoreductase, SdbA, in Streptococcus gordonii that formed disulfide bonds in substrate proteins and played a role in multiple phenotypes. In this study, we used mutational, phenotypic, and biochemical approaches to identify and characterize the redox partners of SdbA. Unexpectedly, the results showed that SdbA has multiple redox partners, forming a complex oxidative protein-folding pathway. The primary redox partners of SdbA that maintain its active site in an oxidized state are a surface-exposed thioredoxin family lipoprotein called SdbB (Sgo_1171) and an integral membrane protein annotated as CcdA2. Inactivation of sdbB and ccdA2 simultaneously, but not individually, recapitulated the sdbA mutant phenotype. The sdbB-ccdA2 mutant had defects in a range of cellular processes, including autolysis, bacteriocin production, genetic competence, and extracellular DNA (eDNA) release. AtlS, the natural substrate of SdbA produced by the sdbB-ccdA2 mutant lacked activity and an intramolecular disulfide bond. The redox state of SdbA in the sdbB-ccdA2 mutant was found to be in a reduced form and was restored when sdbB and ccdA2 were knocked back into the mutant. In addition, we showed that SdbB formed a disulfide-linked complex with SdbA in the cell. Recombinant SdbB and CcdA2 exhibited oxidase activity and reoxidized reduced SdbA in vitro Collectively, our results demonstrate that S. gordonii uses multiple redox partners for oxidative protein folding.IMPORTANCEStreptococcus gordonii is a commensal bacterium of the human dental plaque. Previously, we identified an enzyme, SdbA, that forms disulfide bonds in substrate proteins and plays a role in a number of cellular processes in S. gordonii Here, we identified the redox partners of SdbA. We showed that SdbA has multiple redox partners, SdbB and CcdA2, forming a complex oxidative protein-folding pathway. This pathway is essential for autolysis, bacteriocin production, genetic competence, and extracellular DNA (eDNA) release in S. gordonii These cellular processes are considered to be important for the success of S. gordonii as a dental plaque organism. This is the first example of an oxidative protein-folding pathway in Gram-positive bacteria that consists of an enzyme that uses multiple redox partners to function.

Virulence of the Melioidosis Pathogen Burkholderia pseudomallei Requires the Oxidoreductase Membrane Protein DsbB.

ABSTRACTThe naturally antibiotic-resistant bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei is the causative agent of melioidosis, a disease with stubbornly high mortality and a complex, protracted treatment regimen. The worldwide incidence of melioidosis is likely grossly underreported, though it is known to be highly endemic in northern Australia and Southeast Asia. Bacterial disulfide bond (DSB) proteins catalyze the oxidative folding and isomerization of disulfide bonds in substrate proteins. In the present study, we demonstrate that B. pseudomallei membrane protein disulfide bond protein B (BpsDsbB) forms a functional redox relay with the previously characterized virulence mediator B. pseudomallei disulfide bond protein A (BpsDsbA). Genomic analysis of diverse B. pseudomallei clinical isolates demonstrated that dsbB is a highly conserved core gene. Critically, we show that DsbB is required for virulence in B. pseudomallei. A panel of B. pseudomallei dsbB deletion strains (K96243, 576, MSHR2511, MSHR0305b, and MSHR5858) were phenotypically diverse according to the results of in vitro assays that assess hallmarks of virulence. Irrespective of their in vitro virulence phenotypes, two deletion strains were attenuated in a BALB/c mouse model of infection. A crystal structure of a DsbB-derived peptide complexed with BpsDsbA provides the first molecular characterization of their interaction. This work contributes to our broader understanding of DSB redox biology and will support the design of antimicrobial drugs active against this important family of bacterial virulence targets.

Role of cysteine-protease CGHC motifs of ER-60, a protein disulfide isomerase, in hepatic apolipoprotein B100 degradation

Apolipoprotein B100 (apoB), the structural component of very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), is susceptible to misfolding and subsequent degradation by several intracellular pathways. ER-60, which has been implicated in apoB degradation, is a protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) that forms or rearranges disulfide bonds in substrate proteins and also possesses cysteine protease activity. To determine which ER-60 function is important for apoB degradation, adenoviruses encoding wild-type human ER-60 or a mutant form of human ER-60 (C60A, C409A) that lacked cysteine protease activity were overexpressed in HepG2 cells. Overexpression of wild-type ER-60 in HepG2 cells promoted apoB degradation and impaired apoB secretion, but mutant ER-60 overexpression did not. In McArdle RH-7777 cells, VLDL secretion was markedly inhibited following overexpression of wild-type but not mutant ER-60, an effect that could be blocked by oleate treatment. Mutant ER-60 was not trapped on apoB as it was with the control substrate tapasin, suggesting that ER-60’s role in apoB degradation is likely unrelated to its protein disulfide isomerase activity. Thus, ER-60 may participate in apoB degradation by acting as a cysteine protease. We postulate that apoB cleavage by ER-60 within the ER lumen could facilitate proteasomal degradation of the C-terminus of translocationally-arrested apoB.

Crystal structure of the periplasmic disulfide-bond isomerase DsbC from Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and the mechanistic implications

The disulfide-bond isomerase DsbC plays a crucial role in the folding of bacterial proteins in the periplasmic space. DsbC has a V-shaped dimeric structure with two domains, and Cys98 in the C-terminal domain attacks inappropriate disulfide bonds in substrate proteins due to its high nucleophilic activity. In this article, we present the crystal structure of DsbC from Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. We evaluated the conserved residues Asp95 and Arg125, which are located close to Cys98. The mutation of Asp95 or Arg125 abolished the disulfide isomerase activity of DsbC in an in vitro assay using a protein substrate, and the R125A mutation significantly reduced the chaperone activity for the substrate RNase I in vivo. Furthermore, a comparative analysis suggested that the conformation of Arg125 varies depending on the packing or protein–protein interactions. Based on these findings, we suggest that Asp95 and Arg125 modulate the pKa of Cys98 during catalysis.

Structure of the Disulfide Bond Generating Membrane Protein DsbB in the Lipid Bilayer

The integral membrane protein DsbB in Escherichia coli is responsible for oxidizing the periplasmic protein DsbA, which forms disulfide bonds in substrate proteins. We have developed a high-resolution structural model by combining experimental X-ray and solid-state NMR with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. We embedded the high-resolution DsbB structure, derived from the joint calculation with X-ray reflections and solid-state NMR restraints, into the lipid bilayer and performed MD simulations to provide a mechanistic view of DsbB function in the membrane. Further, we revealed the membrane topology of DsbB by selective proton spin diffusion experiments, which directly probe the correlations of DsbB with water and lipid acyl chains. NMR data also support the model of a flexible periplasmic loop and an interhelical hydrogen bond between Glu26 and Tyr153.

A High-Throughput Turbidometric Assay for Screening Inhibitors of Leishmania major Protein Disulfide Isomerase

The use of a high-throughput technique to perform a pilot screen for Leishmania major protein disulfide isomerase (LmPDI) inhibitors identification is reported. In eukaryotic cells, protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) plays a crucial role in protein folding by catalyzing the rearrangement of disulfide bonds in substrate proteins following their synthesis. LmPDI displays similar domain structure organization and functional properties to other PDI family members and is involved in Leishmania virulence. The authors used a method based on the enzyme-catalyzed reduction of insulin in the presence of dithiothreitol. The screen of a small library of 1920 compounds was performed in a 384-well format and led to the identification of 27 compounds with inhibitory activity against LmPDI. The authors further tested the cytotoxicity of these compounds using Jurkat cells as well as their effect on Leishmania donovani amastigotes using high-content analysis. Results show hexachlorophene and a mixture of theaflavin monogallates inhibit Leishmania multiplication in infected macrophages derived from THP-1 cells, although the inhibitory effect on LmPDI enzymatic activity does not necessarily correlate with the antileishmanial activity.

Both PDI and PDIp can attack the native disulfide bonds in thermally-unfolded RNase and form stable disulfide-linked complexes

Protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) and its pancreatic homolog (PDIp) are folding catalysts for the formation, reduction, and/or isomerization of disulfide bonds in substrate proteins. However, the question as to whether PDI and PDIp can directly attack the native disulfide bonds in substrate proteins is still not answered, which is the subject of the present study. We found that RNase can be thermally unfolded at 65 °C under non-reductive conditions while its native disulfide bonds remain intact, and the unfolded RNase can refold and reactivate during cooling. Co-incubation of RNase with PDI or PDIp during thermal unfolding can inactivate RNase in a PDI/PDIp concentration-dependent manner. The alkylated PDI and PDIp, which are devoid of enzymatic activities, cannot inactivate RNase, suggesting that the inactivation of RNase results from the disruption of its native disulfide bonds catalyzed by the enzymatic activities of PDI/PDIp. In support of this suggestion, we show that both PDI and PDIp form stable disulfide-linked complexes only with thermally-unfolded RNase, and RNase in the complexes can be released and reactivated dependently of the redox conditions used. The N-terminal active site of PDIp is essential for the inactivation of RNase. These data indicate that PDI and PDIp can perform thiol-disulfide exchange reactions with native disulfide bonds in unfolded RNase via formation of stable disulfide-linked complexes, and from these complexes RNase is further released.

Structural and Biochemical Characterization of Yeast Monothiol Glutaredoxin Grx6

Glutaredoxins (Grxs) are a ubiquitous family of proteins that reduce disulfide bonds in substrate proteins using electrons from reduced glutathione (GSH). The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae Grx6 is a monothiol Grx that is localized in the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi compartments. Grx6 consists of three segments, a putative signal peptide (M1-I36), an N-terminal domain (K37-T110), and a C-terminal Grx domain (K111-N231, designated Grx6C). Compared to the classic dithiol glutaredoxin Grx1, Grx6 has a lower glutathione disulfide reductase activity but a higher glutathione S-transferase activity. In addition, similar to human Grx2, Grx6 binds GSH via an iron–sulfur cluster in vitro. The N-terminal domain is essential for noncovalent dimerization, but not required for either of the above activities. The crystal structure of Grx6C at 1.5 Å resolution revealed a novel two-strand antiparallel β-sheet opposite the GSH binding groove. This extra β-sheet might also exist in yeast Grx7 and in a group of putative Grxs in lower organisms, suggesting that Grx6 might represent the first member of a novel Grx subfamily.

Redox Receptor Regulation Revealed

Thioredoxin-1 (Trx1) is a thiol-disulfide oxidoreductase that can reduce transiently formed disulfide bonds in substrate proteins. The enzyme is released from lymphocytes and has extracellular cytokine-like actions, but the mechanisms by which it produces such effects are not known. Schwertassek et al . used a modified form of Trx1 in a substrate trapping assay (in which the engineered Trx1 formed long-lived mixed disulfide intermediates with its targets) to search for cell-surface proteins that might be modified by the enzyme. An affinity tag on the modified Trx1 allowed purification of the complexes and subsequent identification of associated proteins by mass spectrometry. In the human Epstein-Barr virus--transformed lymphoblastoid B cell line LCL-721.220--the authors found just one primary target of Trx-1, a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) superfamily known as TNFRSF8 or CD30. The association of the proteins was lost under reducing conditions and, although all TNFR superfamily members characteristically have cysteine-rich domains, association with Trx1 was specific to CD30. Modification of CD30 appeared to cause a conformational change in the receptor because recognition of the receptor by antibodies was altered. This action of Trx1 required the presence of a source of reducing equivalents. Incubation of Hodgkin’s lymphoma HDLM-2 cells decreased binding of recombinant soluble CD30 ligand to its receptor at the cell surface and, in the YT granular lymphoma cell line, blocked increased expression of the gene encoding the interleukin-2 receptor alpha chain, which is normally activated by CD30 signaling. The authors thus propose that excreted Trx1 may alter receptor function and may, in this way, link oxidative stress to lymphocyte function. U. Schwertassek, Y. Balmer, M. Gutscher, L. Weingarten, M. Preuss, J. Engelhard, M. Winkler, T. P. Dick, Selective redox regulation of cytokine receptor signaling by extracellular thioredoxin-1. EMBO J. 26 , 3086-3097 (2007). [PubMed]

Conserved Role of the Linker α-Helix of the Bacterial Disulfide Isomerase DsbC in the Avoidance of Misoxidation by DsbB

In the bacterial periplasm the co-existence of a catalyst of disulfide bond formation (DsbA) that is maintained in an oxidized state and of a reduced enzyme that catalyzes the rearrangement of mispaired cysteine residues (DsbC) is important for the folding of proteins containing multiple disulfide bonds. The kinetic partitioning of the DsbA/DsbB and DsbC/DsbD pathways partly depends on the ability of DsbB to oxidize DsbA at rates >1000 times greater than DsbC. We show that the resistance of DsbC to oxidation by DsbB is abolished by deletions of one or more amino acids within the alpha-helix that connects the N-terminal dimerization domain with the C-terminal thioredoxin domain. As a result, mutant DsbC carrying alpha-helix deletions could catalyze disulfide bond formation and complemented the phenotypes of dsbA cells. Examination of DsbC homologues from Haemophilus influenzae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Erwinia chrysanthemi, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, Vibrio cholerae (30-70% sequence identity with the Escherichia coli enzyme) revealed that the mechanism responsible for avoiding oxidation by DsbB is a general property of DsbC family enzymes. In addition we found that deletions in the linker region reduced, but did not abolish, the ability of DsbC to assist the formation of active vtPA and phytase in vivo, in a DsbD-dependent manner, revealing that interactions between DsbD and DsbC are also conserved.

A High-Throughput Turbidometric Assay for Screening Inhibitors of Protein Disulfide Isomerase Activity

Protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) plays a key role in protein folding by catalyzing rearrangements of disulfide bonds in substrate proteins following their synthesis in eukaryotic cells. Besides its major role in the processing and maturation of secretory proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum, this enzyme and its homologs have been implicated in multiple important cellular processes; however, they have not served as targets for the development of therapeutic agents. The authors developed a high-throughput screening assay for PDI and its homologous enzymes in 384-well microplates. The method is based on the enzyme-catalyzed reduction of insulin in the presence of dithiothreitol and measures the aggregation of reduced insulin chains at 650 nm. This kinetic assay was converted to an end-point assay by using hydrogen peroxide as a stop reagent. The feasibility of this high-throughput assay for screening chemical libraries was demonstrated in a pilot screen. The authors show that this homogenous turbidometric assay is robust and cost-effective and can be applied to identify PDI inhibitors from chemical libraries, opening this class of enzymes for therapeutic exploration.

Thioredoxin and Its Relatives Are Specific Regulators

The formation of reactive oxygen species is implicated in many signaling processes, including the pathways triggered by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Thioredoxin (Trx) and thioredoxin-related proteins (TRP) are disulfide reductases that contribute to the redox regulation of cells. In their reduced form, these enzymes can reduce disulfide bonds in substrate proteins. In two articles this week, Jeong et al . characterized the activity of TRP14 and compared the roles of TRP14 and Trx1 in TNF-α signaling using overexpression or depletion by RNA interference. Both proteins inhibit nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling, as determined by increased Mn 2+ -dependent superoxide dismutase expression (an NF-κB target gene), in response to TNF-α exposure in cells depleted of Trx1 or TRP14. The rate and extent of phosphorylation and degradation of the inhibitor of κB (IκBα) were also increased in Trx1- or TRP14-depleted cells. Depletion of Trx1 or TRP14 also resulted in accelerated caspase cleavage and enhanced cell death in TNF-α-stimulated cells in which protein synthesis was blocked. More interesting were the differences observed after depletion of TRP14 and Trx1. Depletion of Trx1 did not affect the time course or extent of phosphorylation of the two mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family members JNK and p38, whereas depletion of TRP14 did not alter the time course of phosphorylation but did increase the extent of phosphorylation of these two enzymes. Another difference was the interaction and inhibition of the MAPK kinase kinase ASK1 by Trx1, which did not occur with TRP14. In vitro substrate trapping experiments identified LC8 (the light chain of dynein, which is also known to interact with IκBα and the Bcl-2 member Bim), cofilin, and ribosomal protein L30 as potential substrates of TRP14. In transfected cells, LC8 and TRP14 formed a complex in response to TNF-α or peroxide treatment. Thus, the thioredoxin family of proteins appears to serve specific regulatory roles in redox regulation. W. Jeong, T.-S. Chang, E. S. Boja, H. M. Fales, S. G. Rhee, Roles of TRP14, a thioredoxin-related protein in tumor necrosis factor-α signaling pathways. J. Biol. Chem. 279 , 3151-3159 (2004). [Abstract] [Full Text] W. Jeong, H. W. Yoon, S.-R. Lee, S. G. Rhee, Identification and characterization of TRP14, a thioredoxin-related protein of 14 kDa: new insights into the specificity of thioredoxin function. J. Biol. Chem. 279 , 3142-3150 (2004). [Abstract] [Full Text]

A small-molecule catalyst of protein folding in vitro and in vivo.

The formation of native disulfide bonds between cysteine residues often limits the rate and yield of protein folding. The enzyme protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) catalyzes the interchange of disulfide bonds in substrate proteins. The two -Cys-Gly-His-Cys- active sites of PDI provide a thiol that has a low pKa value and a disulfide bond of high reduction potential (Eo'). A synthetic small-molecule dithiol, (+/-)-trans-1,2-bis(2-mercaptoacetamido)cyclohexane (BMC), has a pKa value of 8.3 and an Eo' value of -0.24 V. These values are similar to those of the PDI active sites. BMC catalyzes the activation of scrambled ribonuclease A, an inactive enzyme with non-native disulfide bonds, and doubles the yield of active enzyme. A monothiol analog of BMC, N-methylmercaptoacetamide, is a less efficient catalyst than BMC. BMC in the growth medium of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells increases by > threefold the heterologous secretion of Schizosaccharomyces pombe acid phosphatase, which has eight disulfide bonds. This effect is similar to that from the overproduction of PDI in the S. cerevisiae cells, indicating that BMC, like PDI, can catalyze protein folding in vivo. A small-molecule dithiol with a low thiol pKa value and high disulfide Eo' value can mimic PDI by catalyzing the formation of native disulfide bonds in proteins, both in vitro and in vivo.

Reduction of the periplasmic disulfide bond isomerase, DsbC, occurs by passage of electrons from cytoplasmic thioredoxin.

The Escherichia coli periplasmic protein DsbC is active both in vivo and in vitro as a protein disulfide isomerase. For DsbC to attack incorrectly formed disulfide bonds in substrate proteins, its two active-site cysteines should be in the reduced form. Here we present evidence that, in wild-type cells, these two cysteines are reduced. Further, we show that a pathway involving the cytoplasmic proteins thioredoxin reductase and thioredoxin and the cytoplasmic membrane protein DsbD is responsible for the reduction of these cysteines. Thus, reducing potential is passed from cytoplasmic electron donors through the cytoplasmic membrane to DsbC. This pathway does not appear to utilize the cytoplasmic glutathione-glutaredoxin pathway. The redox state of the active-site cysteines of DsbC correlates quite closely with its ability to assist in the folding of proteins with multiple disulfide bonds. Analysis of the activity of mutant forms of DsbC in which either or both of these cysteines have been altered further supports the role of DsbC as a disulfide bond isomerase.