title: The role of dehydroascorbate in disulfide bond formation.
abstract: Dehydroascorbate (DHA) is a higher oxidation state of ascorbate formed through its action as an intracellular antioxidant. The recycling of DHA back to ascorbate is thought to be catalyzed by a variety of enzymes, including protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), linking ascorbate metabolism to oxidative protein folding in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Here we examine the possible role of PDI as a dehydroascorbate reductase. We find the reaction too slow to be the major route for reduction of DHA in the ER, with a second-order rate constant for the reaction of reduced PDI with DHA of only 12.5 M(-1)s(-1). Rates of a similar order of magnitude were obtained for other thioredoxin-superfamily members. However, glutaredoxin was able to catalyze DHA reduction more rapidly through a monothiol mechanism. In addition, DHA can rapidly react with many other dithiol systems, including dithiols in unfolded or partially folded proteins in a PDI-independent manner, with second-order rate constants of up to 186 M(-1)s(-1). Furthermore, we identify borate as a potent inhibitor of catalyzed and noncatalyzed DHA reduction in vitro. This study both provides insights into the link between ascorbate metabolism and oxidative protein folding and suggests a novel link between ascorbate metabolism and borate toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Mirva J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Saaranen
authors.forename: Anna-Riikka
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Karala
authors.forename: Anna-Kaisa
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Lappi
authors.forename: Lloyd W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Ruddock
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D003683:Dehydroascorbic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D004220:Disulfides / Q000378:metabolism*; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000378:metabolism; D019704:Protein Disulfide-Isomerases / Q000378:metabolism; D017510:Protein Folding
chemical_list: D004220:Disulfides; D019704:Protein Disulfide-Isomerases; D003683:Dehydroascorbic Acid