Identification of a protein required for disulfide bond formation in vivo

Cell. 1991 Nov 1;67(3):581-9. doi: 10.1016/0092-8674(91)90532-4.

Abstract

We describe a mutation (dsbA) that renders Escherichia coli severely defective in disulfide bond formation. In dsbA mutant cells, pulse-labeled beta-lactamase, alkaline phosphatase, and OmpA are secreted but largely lack disulfide bonds. These disulfideless proteins may represent in vivo folding intermediates, since they are protease sensitive and chase slowly into stable oxidized forms. The dsbA gene codes for a 21,000 Mr periplasmic protein containing the sequence cys-pro-his-cys, which resembles the active sites of certain disulfide oxidoreductases. The purified DsbA protein is capable of reducing the disulfide bonds of insulin, an activity that it shares with these disulfide oxidoreductases. Our results suggest that disulfide bond formation is facilitated by DsbA in vivo.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / chemistry
  • Base Sequence
  • Disulfides*
  • Escherichia coli / genetics*
  • Genes, Bacterial*
  • Genetic Complementation Test
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Insulin / metabolism
  • Isomerases / genetics*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Oxidoreductases / genetics*
  • Phenotype
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Disulfide-Isomerases
  • Restriction Mapping
  • Sequence Alignment

Substances

  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
  • Disulfides
  • Insulin
  • Oxidoreductases
  • Isomerases
  • Protein Disulfide-Isomerases

Associated data

  • GENBANK/M77746
  • GENBANK/S60911
  • GENBANK/S60914
  • GENBANK/S60917
  • GENBANK/S60919
  • GENBANK/S60920
  • GENBANK/S60969
  • GENBANK/S61522
  • GENBANK/S61524
  • GENBANK/S63653