Encoding Thioredoxin Reductase Research Articles

Influence of a temperature shock on the synthesis efficiency of surfactants by <i>Rhodococcus pyridinivorans</i> 5Ap bacteria

It was found that the synthesis of surfactants by R. pyridinivorans 5Ap bacteria can be increased by exposing them to a short temperature shock (55 °C for 20 minutes) after 24 hour cultivation in a minimal medium containing molasses (3 %) and hexadecane (2 %) (9 % increase in the emulsification index). Gene activation encoding global regulators of cell metabolism, including those performing a protective function under stress, was recorded in this cultivation mode. In particular, the mRNA amount determining the synthesis of the alternative transcription factor SigH increased 90.8 times and containing in the promoters its binding sites fmdB cochaperone – 59.3 times, hsp22.5 chaperone – 81.1 times, and the trxB gene encoding thioredoxin reductase – 73.1 times. In addition, it was shown that the transcriptional activation of groEL1, groEL2 and dnaJ genes determining the synthesis of heat shock proteins was 2.2, 2.6 and 4.4 times, respectively. The obtained results suggest that an increase in the alternative factor sigma H synthesis, which activates protective cellular metabolism, as well as structural, heat shock proteins under short temperature stress, leads to an increased production of surfactants, which can be used to optimize the synthesis of these secondary metabolites for biotechnological use.

TXNRD1 knockdown inhibits the proliferation of endothelial cells subjected to oscillatory shear stress via activation of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase/apoptosis pathway

Atherosclerosis is the main cause of cardiovascular disease, and fluid shear stress is a key factor regulating its occurrence and development. Oscillatory shear stress (Oss) is an important pro-atherosclerosis factor. Oss mainly occurs in areas that are susceptible to atherosclerosis, but the exact mechanism of atherosclerosis induction remains unclear. Therefore, starting from the atheroprone phenotype that Oss stimulates abnormal vascular endothelial cell proliferation, this study aimed to reveal the underlying mechanism of Oss-induced atherosclerosis formation and to identify new targets for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis. In this study, the gene encoding thioredoxin reductase 1 (TXNRD1), which is closely related to atherosclerosis development and cell proliferation, was screened by analyzing the transcriptome sequencing data of static and Oss-treated human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs). Moreover, this study successfully verified that TXNRD1 mRNA and protein were significantly upregulated in Oss-treated HAECs. Oss significantly promoted the proliferation, migration, and tube formation of HAECs, whereas TXNRD1 knockdown impaired the proliferation, migration, and tube formation of Oss-treated HAECs, and this process was mainly achieved via activation of the apoptosis pathway. To further clarify whether Oss-sensitive TXNRD1 affects the apoptosis rate and proliferative ability of HAECs by regulating the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) pathway, we used NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) to inhibit eNOS activity and nitric oxide (NO) production. L-NAME significantly reversed the promoting effect of TXNRD1 knockdown on Oss-treated HAEC apoptosis, and it also abolished the inhibitory effect of TXNRD1 knockdown on the proliferation and S + G2 phase cell mass of Oss-treated HAECs. In conclusion, this study showed that TXNRD1 knockdown inhibited the proliferation of HAECs exposed to Oss by activating the eNOS/apoptosis pathway, revealing that TXNRD1 is involved in the dysregulation of Oss-induced endothelial cell proliferation. These findings provide new directions and insights into the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis.

Characterization of novel gliotoxin biosynthesis-related genes from deep-sea-derived fungus Geosmithia pallida FS140

Gliotoxins are epipolythiodioxopiperazine toxins produced by the filamentous fungi, which show great potential in the treatment of liver and lung cancer because of its cytotoxicity. In this study, three novel genes related to gliotoxin biosynthesis, gliT, gliM and gliK encoding thioredoxin reductase, O-methyltransferase and gamma-glutamyl cyclotransferase, respectively, from the deep-sea-derived fungus Geosmithia pallida were cloned from G. pallida and expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant GliT, GliM and GliK proteins were expressed and purified by Ni affinity column, which was demonstrated by SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis. The inclusion bodies of GliT were renatured and the corresponding enzymatic properties of the two enzymes were further investigated. Using DTNB as a substrate, GliT showed the highest enzymatic activity of 11041 mU/L at pH 7.0, and the optimal reaction temperature was 40 °C. Using EGCG as a substrate, GliM showed the highest enzymatic activity of 239.19 mU/mg at pH 7.0, the optimum temperature was 35 °C. GliK from G. pallida was firstly reported to show bi-function of glutymal cyclotransferase and acetyltransfearse actvity with highest enzymatic activity of 615.5 U/mg in this study. The results suggested the important enzymatic function of GliT, GliM and GliK in the gliotoxin biosynthesis in G. pallida, which would lay a foundation for the mechanism elucidation of the gliotoxin biosynthesis in G. pallida and the exploitation of novel gliotoxin derivaties.

Rifampin Resistance rpoB Alleles or Multicopy Thioredoxin/Thioredoxin Reductase Suppresses the Lethality of Disruption of the Global Stress Regulator spx in Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcus aureus is capable of causing a remarkable spectrum of disease, ranging from mild skin eruptions to life-threatening infections. The survival and pathogenic potential of S. aureus depend partly on its ability to sense and respond to changes in its environment. Spx is a thiol/oxidative stress sensor that interacts with the C-terminal domain of the RNA polymerase RpoA subunit, leading to changes in gene expression that help sustain viability under various conditions. Using genetic and deep-sequencing methods, we show that spx is essential in S. aureus and that a previously reported Δspx strain harbored suppressor mutations that allowed it to grow without spx One of these mutations is a single missense mutation in rpoB (a P-to-L change at position 519 encoded by rpoB [rpoB-P519L]) that conferred high-level resistance to rifampin. This mutation alone was found to be sufficient to bypass the requirement for spx The generation of rifampin resistance libraries led to the discovery of an additional rpoB mutation, R484H, which supported strains with the spx disruption. Other rifampin resistance mutations either failed to support the Δspx mutant or were recovered at unexpectedly low frequencies in genetic transduction experiments. The amino acid residues encoded by rpoB-P519L and -R484H map in close spatial proximity and comprise a highly conserved region of RpoB. We also discovered that multicopy expression of either trxA (encoding thioredoxin) or trxB (encoding thioredoxin reductase) supports strains with the deletion of spx Our results reveal intriguing properties, especially of RNA polymerase, that compensate for the loss of an essential gene that is a key mediator of diverse processes in S. aureus, including redox and thiol homeostasis, antibiotic resistance, growth, and metabolism. The survival and pathogenicity of S. aureus depend on complex genetic programs. An objective for combating this insidious organism entails dissecting genetic regulatory circuits and discovering promising new targets for therapeutic intervention. In this study, we discovered that Spx, an RNA polymerase-interacting stress regulator implicated in many stress responses in S. aureus, including responses to oxidative and cell wall antibiotics, is essential. We describe two mechanisms that suppress the lethality of spx disruption. One mechanism highlights how only certain rifampin resistance-encoding alleles of RpoB confer new properties on RNA polymerase, with important mechanistic implications. We describe additional stress conditions where the loss of spx is deleterious, thereby highlighting Spx as a multifaceted regulator and attractive drug discovery target.

Schizosaccharomyces pombe의 유일한 치오레독신 환원효소의 산화적, 일산화질소 및 영양 스트레스에 대한 방어적 역할

A unique Schizosaccharomyces pombe TrxR⁺ gene encoding thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) was found to be positively regulated by stress-inducing agents through the stress-responsive transcription factor Pap1. In the present study, the protective roles of S. pombe TrxR were evaluated using the TrxR-overexpressing recombinant plasmid pHSM10. In the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and superoxide anion-generating menadione (MD), S. pombe TrxR increased cellular growth and the total glutathione (GSH) level, while it reduced levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). The nitric oxide (NO) levels of the TrxR-overexpressing cells, in the presence of H₂O₂ and MD, were maintained to be similar to those of the corresponding non-treated cells. Although S. pombe TrxR was able to scavenge NO generated by sodium nitroprusside (SNP), it had no significant modulating effects on cellular growth, ROS levels, or the total GSH level of SNP-exposed yeast cells, compared with the differences in those of the two non-treated cell cultures. TrxR increased the cellular growth and total GSH level, which were diminished by nitrogen starvation. It also scavenged ROS and NO produced during nitrogen starvation. Taken together, the S. pombe TrxR protects against oxidative, nitrosative, and nutritional stresses.

Peroxiredoxin Chaperone Activity Is Critical for Protein Homeostasis in Zinc-deficient Yeast*♦

Zinc is required for the folding and function of many proteins. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, homeostatic and adaptive responses to zinc deficiency are regulated by the Zap1 transcription factor. One Zap1 target gene encodes the Tsa1 peroxiredoxin, a protein with both peroxidase and protein chaperone activities. Consistent with its regulation, Tsa1 is critical for growth under low zinc conditions. We previously showed that Tsa1's peroxidase function decreases the oxidative stress that occurs in zinc deficiency. In this report, we show that Tsa1 chaperone, and not peroxidase, activity is the more critical function in zinc-deficient cells. Mutations restoring growth to zinc-deficient tsa1 cells inactivated TRR1, encoding thioredoxin reductase. Because Trr1 is required for oxidative stress tolerance, this result implicated the Tsa1 chaperone function in tolerance to zinc deficiency. Consistent with this hypothesis, the tsa1Δ zinc requirement was complemented by a Tsa1 mutant allele that retained only chaperone function. Additionally, growth of tsa1Δ was also restored by overexpression of holdase chaperones Hsp26 and Hsp42, which lack peroxidase activity, and the Tsa1 paralog Tsa2 contributed to suppression by trr1Δ, even though trr1Δ inactivates Tsa2 peroxidase activity. The essentiality of the Tsa1 chaperone suggested that zinc-deficient cells experience a crisis of disrupted protein folding. Consistent with this model, assays of protein homeostasis suggested that zinc-limited tsa1Δ mutants accumulated unfolded proteins and induced a corresponding stress response. These observations demonstrate a clear physiological role for a peroxiredoxin chaperone and reveal a novel and unexpected role for protein homeostasis in tolerating metal deficiency.

Characterization of the anticancer pharmacology of novel jadomycin molecules

IntroductionJadomycins are natural anticancer products produced by the soil bacteria S. Venezuelae. The object was to examine the cytotoxicity and mechanisms of action of jadomycins in control and taxol, etoposide, and mitoxantrone‐resistant MCF7 breast cancer cells that respectively overexpress the ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters ABCB1, ABCC1, or ABCG2.Methods and ResultsLactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays were used to determine the cytotoxicity of jadomycins DNV, L, B, SPhG, F, W, S, and T. All jadomycins were 100% efficacious at killing control MCF7 cells with EC50 values of 4.3 to 42.3 μM. The jadomycins effectively killed the ABCB1, ABCC1, and ABCG2 overexpressing MCF7 cells with a slight 1.5–3.5‐fold reduction in potency relative to the control MCF7 cells. Using PCR cancer gene arrays and quantitative PCR assays, the expression of 15 cancer‐related genes was found to be altered by jadomycin B or S treatment. This included up to a 23.7‐fold increase in the expression of the antioxidant encoding thioredoxin reductase 1 (TXNRD1). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) assays indicated ROS levels are elevated after jadomycin B, S, or SPhG treatment.ConclusionsJadomycin cytotoxicity in MCF7 breast cancer cells is not dependent of ABCB1, ABCC1, or ABCG2 function. The mechanisms of jadomycin action may include the production of ROS and subsequent cellular oxidative damage.This project is funded by NSERC, CIHR, NSHRF, and BHCRI.

The stress signalling pathway nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 is activated in the liver of sows during lactation

BackgroundIt has recently been shown that the lactation-induced inflammatory state in the liver of dairy cows is accompanied by activation of the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway, which regulates the expression of antioxidant and cytoprotective genes and thereby protects tissues from inflammatory mediators and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The present study aimed to study whether the Nrf2 pathway is activated also in the liver of lactating sows.FindingsTranscript levels of known Nrf2 target genes, UGT1A1 (encoding glucuronosyltransferase 1 family, polypeptide A1), HO-1 (encoding heme oxygenase 1), NQO1 (encoding NAD(P)H dehydrogenase, quinone 1), GPX1 (encoding glutathione peroxidase), PRDX6 (encoding peroxiredoxin 6), TXNRD1 (encoding thioredoxin reductase 1), and SOD (encoding superoxide dismutase), in the liver are significantly elevated (between 1.7 and 3.1 fold) in lactating sows compared to non-lactating sows. The inflammatory state in the liver was evidenced by the finding that transcript levels of genes encoding acute phase proteins, namely haptoglobin (HP), fibrinogen γ (FGG), complement factor B (CFB), C-reactive protein (CRP) and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP), were significantly higher (2 to 8.7 fold) in lactating compared to non-lactating sows.ConclusionsThe results of the present study indicate that the Nrf2 pathway in the liver of sows is activated during lactation. The activation of Nrf2 pathway during lactation in sows might be interpreted as a physiologic means to counteract the inflammatory process and to protect the liver against damage induced by inflammatory signals and ROS.

Cloning, structural features, and expression analysis of the gene encoding thioredoxin reductase 1 from Apis cerana cerana

Previous studies have demonstrated that mammalian thioredoxin reductases 1 (TrxRs; EC 1.6.4.5) play roles in protection against oxidant injury, cell growth and transformation, and the recycling of ascorbate from its oxidized form. However, little is known about the function of TrxRs in insects, especially in Apis cerana cerana. To gain a better understanding of its role in insects, we cloned TrxR1 from A.cerana cerana (AccTrxR1) and investigated its structural features and expression. The full-length cDNA is 1998 bp long and contains an open reading frame (ORF) of 1485 bp. The deduced AccTrxR1 protein has 494 aa, a calculated molecular mass (MW) of 54.24 kDa, and an isoelectric point of pH 7.35. The full-length genomic DNA of AccTrxR1 is 3500 bp and contains eight exons and seven introns. In addition, the sequence and putative transcription factor-binding sites of the 5'-flanking region were examined. We also looked for conserved domains/motifs, generated homologous alignments, conducted phylogenetic analysis, and made secondary and tertiary structure predictions using web software. RT-PCR revealed that the expression of AccTrxR1 could be induced by UV and heat (37 degrees C). These results indicate that AccTrxR1 may play a key role in protection against oxidant stress.

Effect of Thioredoxin Deletion and p53 Cysteine Replacement on Human p53 Activity in Wild-Type and Thioredoxin Reductase Null Yeast

Reporter gene transactivation by human p53 is inhibited in budding yeast lacking the TRR1 gene encoding thioredoxin reductase. To investigate the role of thioredoxin in controlling p53 activity, the level of reporter gene transactivation by p53 was determined in yeast lacking the TRX1 and TRX2 genes encoding cytosolic thioredoxin. Surprisingly, p53 activity was unimpaired in yeast lacking thioredoxin. Subsequent analyses showed that thioredoxin deletion suppressed the inhibitory effect of thioredoxin reductase deletion, suggesting that accumulation of oxidized thioredoxin in mutant yeast was necessary for p53 inhibition. Purified human thioredoxin and p53 interacted in vitro (Kd = 0.9 microM thioredoxin). To test the idea that dithio-disulfide exchange reactions between p53 and thioredoxin were responsible for p53 inhibition in mutant yeast, each p53 cysteine was changed to serine, and the effect of the substitution on p53 activity in TRR1 and Deltatrr1 yeast was determined. Substitutions at Zn-coordinating cysteines C176, C238, or C242 resulted in p53 inactivation. Unexpectedly, substitution at cysteine C275 also inactivated p53, which was the first evidence for a non-zinc-coordinating cysteine being essential for p53 function. Cysteine substitutions at six positions (C124, C135, C141, C182, C229, and C277) neither inactivated p53 nor relieved the requirement for thioredoxin reductase. Furthermore, no tested combination of these six cysteine substitutions relieved thioredoxin reductase dependence. The results suggested that p53 dependence on thioredoxin reductase either was indirect, perhaps mediated by an upstream activator of p53, or was due to oxidation of one or more of the four essential cysteines.

Redox-Dependent Translocation of p53 to Mitochondria or Nucleus in Human Melanocytes after UVA- and UVB-Induced Apoptosis

The p53 protein is an important transcription factor and tumor suppressor that is induced in response to many forms of cellular stress. UVA irradiation of human melanocytes caused generation of reactive oxygen species, which altered the intracellular redox balance and was accompanied by translocation of p53 to mitochondria. In contrast, UVB did not affect the redox status and p53 was translocated to the nucleus. Although different intracellular location of p53, UVA/B induced apoptosis through the intrinsic pathway detected as translocation of Bax to mitochondria, release of cytochrome c, and activation of caspases. These events were all prevented by inhibition of p53 with pifithrin-alpha. Furthermore, inhibition of p53 prevented lysosomal membrane permeabilization, detected as translocation of cathepsins to the cytosol, after UVB exposure, whereas UVA-induced lysosomal release was unaffected by inhibition of p53. In control cells, p53 coimmunoprecipitated with the antiapoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-x(L) and upon UVA exposure the interaction was replaced by binding to the proapoptotic proteins Bax, Noxa, and Puma. Our findings suggest that UVA-induced apoptosis is caused by extensive oxidative damage leading to p53-regulated mitochondrial release, whereas UVB induces DNA damage and apoptosis signaling upstream of lysosomal membrane permeabilization.

Spx Is a Global Effector Impacting Stress Tolerance and Biofilm Formation inStaphylococcus aureus

In Bacillus subtilis, Spx was recently characterized as a novel type of global regulator whose activity is regulated by the redox status of the cells. In the present study, we demonstrate that inactivation of Spx in the important pathogen Staphylococcus aureus renders the cells hypersensitive to a wide range of stress conditions including high and low temperature, high osmolarity, and hydrogen peroxide. Moreover, growth was restricted under nonstress conditions. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis revealed that the proteome of the spx mutant differs substantially from the proteome of wild-type cells, supporting the finding that Spx is also a global regulator in S. aureus. More specifically, we demonstrated that Spx is required for transcription of trxB, encoding thioredoxin reductase, under all growth conditions examined. As trxB is essential in S. aureus, we speculate that the severely reduced trxB transcription could account for some of the growth defects of the spx mutant. Inactivation of spx also enhanced biofilm formation. S. aureus biofilm formation is associated with the production of the polysaccharide intercellular adhesin encoded by the ica operon. Interestingly, our data indicate that the augmented capacity of the spx mutant to form biofilms is due to Spx modulating the expression of icaR, encoding a repressor of the structural ica genes (icaABCD). In summary, we conclude that Spx fulfills an important role for growth, general stress protection, and biofilm formation in S. aureus.

The whcE gene of Corynebacterium glutamicum is important for survival following heat and oxidative stress

In this study, we have analyzed an ORF from Corynebacterium glutamicum, which codes for a homologue of the Streptomyces coelicolor WhiB-family of proteins known to be involved in sporulation. This ORF encoded a putative protein which harbors a helix–turn–helix DNA-binding motif and a probable redox-sensing motif, and has been designated whcE. We constructed a whcE mutant strain and analyzed the strain under a variety of growth conditions. This mutant strain exhibited a prolonged lag phase and earlier death within the stationary phase, suggesting that the relevant gene may play a role in both growth adaptation and stress responses. Further analysis determined that the mutant strain was not only sensitive with regard to survival under heat stress, but was also markedly susceptible to thiol-specific oxidant diamide and redox cycling compounds, including menadione and plumbagin. The mutant strain also exhibited reductions in thioredoxin reductase activity, which indicates that the trxB gene encoding thioredoxin reductase is under the control of WhcE. Expression of whcE was stimulated during the stationary phase of cell growth and could be modulated by diamide. We also delineated the relationship between whcE and the sigH gene, which is located downstream of whcE, and has been shown to be involved in heat stress responses, via the encoding of an ECF σ factor. In a sigH mutant strain, the whcE gene was no longer expressed, thereby suggesting that the σ H sigma factor is involved in whcE expression. Our results suggest that WhcE functions as a transcription factor which can activate the trxB gene, as well as other genes, possibly by sensing redox changes during the metabolic downshifting of cells from exponential growth to the stationary phase, whereas σ H appears to function as the sigma factor for these genes, including whcE.

Functional analysis of sigH expression in Corynebacterium glutamicum

The sigH gene of Corynebacterium glutamicum encodes ECF sigma factor σ H. The gene apparently plays an important role in other stress responses as well as heat stress response. In this study, we found that deleting the sigH gene made C. glutamicum cells sensitive to the thiol-specific oxidant diamide. In the sigH mutant strain, the activity of thioredoxin reductase markedly decreased, suggesting that the trxB gene encoding thioredoxin reductase is probably under the control of σ H. The expression of sigH was stimulated in the stationary growth phase and modulated by diamide. In addition, the SigH protein was required for the expression of its own gene. These data indicate that the sigH gene of C. glutamicum stimulates and regulates its own expression in the stationary growth phase in response to environmental stimuli, and participates in the expression of other genes which are important for survival following heat and oxidative stress response.

An Experimental Study of Gene Expressing Profile in Human Myeloma Cell Line RPMI8226 Induced by Thalidomide.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is one of malignant plasmacyte neoplasm in hematopietic system. Although nearly 70% patients of myeloma response to chemotherapy, but repeated therapies will induce drug resistance soon and lead to refractory or relapsed myelomas. In recent years, thalidomide is used to treat relapsed and refractory myeloma with satisfied effects and overall therapeutic rate with thalidomide is about 60%. Furthermore, the adverse effects of thalidomide is slight without myelosuppression, hepatotoxicity and renal toxicity. So thalidomide is likely to be a prospective antitumor agent. However, the mechanism of antitumor activity of the agent is still not clear. DNA microarray technology has provided us a very useful method to detect simultaneously the expression pattern of thousands of genes for investigating the molecular antitumor mechanism of thalidomide.To investigate the genes expression profiles of multiple myeloma cell line RPMI8226 treated with thalidomide, cDNA microarray were used to detect thousands of gene expression in a chip. Two cDNA probes were prepared through reverse transcription from mRNA of RPMI8226 cells with or without thalidomide treatment. The probes were labled with Cy3 and Cy5 fluorescence dyes individually,hybridized with cDNA microarray representing 1152 different human genes. Fluorescent intensity were scanned and screened by means of differential analysis between two gene expression profiles. After 72 hrs' co-culture of RPMI8226 cells and thalidomide in 100μmol/L concentration, the expression of 18 genes were up-regulated and 4 genes were down-regulated. The up-regulated genes(GeneBank Accession) included: 1) protein synthesis-related genes:NM_004184(WARS), NM_ 003335(UBE1L); 2) immune-related protein:NM_001465(FYB), NM_004341 (CAD), NM_002388(MCM3); 3) matabolism relatedgenes: BC008861, NM_001640(APEH), NM_020040(TUBB4Q), NM_001033(RRM1), NM_ 001976(ENO3), NM_003330 (TXNRD1); 4) cell signals and transducing proteins: NM_005167(ARHC), NM_001465(FYB); 5) other genes: NM_ 017432(PTOV1), NM_003564 (TAGLN2), NM_005053(RAD23A), NM_ 001033(RRM1), AK025983, NM_015685 (CLONE24904), NM_033158 (HYAL2). The down-regulated genes includes: 1) protein synthesis-related genes: NM_000994(RPL32); 2) immune-related proteins: NM_001551 (IGBP1); 3) other genes: NM_002983(SCYA3), NM_002421(MMP1).These genes were involved in preotein synthesis and degradation, cell signal transduction, cytoskeletal movement immune cell matabolism and regulation of anti-oncogene. WARS gene encoding tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase was up-regulated by thalidomide, while MMP1 gene encoding matrix metalloprotein 1 was down-regulated. They may be related to the inhibition of angiogenesis caused by thalidomide. SCYA3 gene encoding macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha was down-regulated by thalidomide, as well as IGBP1 gene which encoding immunoglobulin binding protein 1. They may play a role in the inhibition of cell proliferation caused by thalidomide. TUBB4Q gene encoding tubulinβ4, UBE1L gene encoding ubiquitin- activating enzyme E1-like protein and TXNRD1 gene encoding thioredoxin reductase 1 were up-regulated by thalidomide. They may involve in apoptosis of RPMI8226 cells induced by thalidomide. FYB gene encoding Fyn-binding protein was up regulated by thalidomide. The elevated expression of this gene may play a role in the killing of RPMI8226 cells by thalidomide.

Stress-dependent regulation of the gene encoding thioredoxin reductase from the fission yeast

The unique putative gene for thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) was isolated from the chromosomal DNA of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The determined DNA sequence carries 3125 bp, and encodes the plausible 322 amino acid sequence of TrxR with a molecular mass of 34,618 Da. The S. pombe cells harboring the cloned TrxR gene contain increased TrxR activity, and shows higher survivals on solid media with mercuric chloride or aluminum chloride. The 1526 bp upstream region was fused into promoterless beta-galactosidase gene of the shuttle vector YEp367R to generate the fusion plasmid. The synthesis of beta-galactosidase from the fusion plasmid pYUTR10 was enhanced by menadione, mercuric chloride, hydrogen peroxide, aluminium chloride and sodium selenite. Menadione significantly enhanced the TrxR mRNA level in the S. pombe cells, which was detected by RT-PCR. Induction of the S. pombe TrxR gene by menadione and mercuric chloride occurs through the mediation of the transcription factor Pap1. These results suggest that the S. pombe TrxR gene is one of the stress response-related genes.

Stress-dependent regulation of the gene encoding thioredoxin reductase from the fission yeast

The unique putative gene for thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) was isolated from the chromosomal DNA of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The determined DNA sequence carries 3125 bp, and encodes the plausible 322 amino acid sequence of TrxR with a molecular mass of 34,618 Da. The S. pombe cells harboring the cloned TrxR gene contain increased TrxR activity, and shows higher survivals on solid media with mercuric chloride or aluminum chloride. The 1526 bp upstream region was fused into promoterless β-galactosidase gene of the shuttle vector YEp367R to generate the fusion plasmid. The synthesis of β-galactosidase from the fusion plasmid pYUTR10 was enhanced by menadione, mercuric chloride, hydrogen peroxide, aluminium chloride and sodium selenite. Menadione significantly enhanced the TrxR mRNA level in the S. pombe cells, which was detected by RT-PCR. Induction of the S. pombe TrxR gene by menadione and mercuric chloride occurs through the mediation of the transcription factor Pap1. These results suggest that the S. pombe TrxR gene is one of the stress response-related genes.

Non-reciprocal regulation of the redox state of the glutathione-glutaredoxin and thioredoxin systems.

Our studies in yeast show that there is an essential requirement for either an active thioredoxin or an active glutathione (GSH)-glutaredoxin system for cell viability. Glutathione reductase (Glr1) and thioredoxin reductase (Trr1) are key regulatory enzymes that determine the redox state of the GSH-glutaredoxin and thioredoxin systems, respectively. Here we show that Trr1 is required during normal cell growth, whereas there is no apparent requirement for Glr1. Analysis of the redox state of thioredoxins and glutaredoxins in glr1 and trr1 mutants reveals that thioredoxins are maintained independently of the glutathione system. In contrast, there is a strong correlation between the redox state of glutaredoxins and the oxidation state of the GSSG/2GSH redox couple. We suggest that independent redox regulation of thioredoxins enables cells to survive in conditions under which the GSH-glutaredoxin system is oxidized.

Reporter gene transactivation by human p53 is inhibited in thioredoxin reductase null yeast by a mechanism associated with thioredoxin oxidation and independent of changes in the redox state of glutathione.

Reporter gene transactivation by human p53 is compromised in S. cerevisiae lacking the TRR1 gene encoding thioredoxin reductase. The basis for p53 inhibition was investigated by measuring the redox state of thioredoxin and glutathione in wild-type and Deltatrr1 yeast. The Deltatrr1 mutation affected the redox state of both molecules. About 34% of thioredoxin was in the disulfide form in wild-type yeast and increased to 70% in Deltatrr1 yeast. About 18% of glutathione was in the GSSG form in wild-type yeast and increased to 32% in Deltatrr1 yeast. The Deltatrr1 mutation also resulted in a 2.9-fold increase in total glutathione per mg extract protein. Highcopy expression of the GLR1 gene encoding glutathione reductase in Deltatrr1 yeast restored the GSSG:GSH ratio to wild-type levels, but did not restore p53 activity. Also, p53 activity was shown to be unaffected by a Deltaglr1 mutation, even though the mutation was known to result in glutathione oxidation. In summary, the results show that, although glutathione becomes more oxidized in Deltatrr1 cells, glutathione oxidation is neither sufficient nor necessary for p53 inhibition. The results indicate that p53 activity has a specific requirement for an intact thioredoxin system, rather than a general dependence on the intracellular reducing environment.

Role of thioredoxin reductase in the Yap1p-dependent response to oxidative stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae Yap1p transcription factor is required for the H2O2-dependent activation of many antioxidant genes including the TRX2 gene encoding thioredoxin 2. To identify factors that regulate Yap1p activity, we carried out a genetic screen for mutants that show elevated expression of a TRX2-HIS3 fusion in the absence of H2O2. Two independent mutants isolated in this screen carried mutations in the TRR1 gene encoding thioredoxin reductase. Northern blot and whole-genome expression analysis revealed that the basal expression of most Yap1p targets and many other H2O2-inducible genes is elevated in Deltatrr1 mutants in the absence of external stress. In Deltatrr1 mutants treated with H2O2, the Yap1p targets, as well as genes comprising a general environmental stress response and genes encoding protein-folding chaperones, are hyperinduced. However, despite the elevated expression of genes encoding antioxidant enzymes, Deltatrr1 mutants are extremely sensitive to H2O2. The results suggest that cells lacking thioredoxin reductase have diminished capacity to detoxify oxidants and/or to repair oxidative stress-induced damage and that the thioredoxin system is involved in the redox regulation of Yap1p transcriptional activity.