A peroxiredoxin of Thermus thermophilus HB27: Biochemical characterization of a new player in the antioxidant defence

To fight oxidative damage due to reactive oxygen species (ROS), cells are equipped of different enzymes, among which Peroxiredoxins (Prxs) (EC 1.11.1.15) play a key role. Prxs are thiol-based enzymes containing one (1-Cys Prx) or two (2-Cys Prx) catalytic cysteine residues. In 2-Cys Prxs the cysteine residues form a disulfide bridge following reduction of peroxide which is in turn reduced by Thioredoxin reductase (Tr) /Thioredoxin (Trx) disulfide reducing system to regenerate the enzyme. In this paper we investigated on Prxs of Thermus thermophilus whose genome contains an ORF TT_C0933 encoding a putative Prx, belonging to the subfamily of Bacterioferritin comigratory protein (Bcp): the synthetic gene was produced and expressed in E. coli and the recombinant protein, Tt Bcp, was biochemically characterized. Tt Bcp was active on both organic and inorganic peroxides and showed stability at high temperatures. To get insight into disulfide reducing system involved in the recycling of the enzyme we showed that Tt Bcp catalically eliminates hydrogen peroxide using an unusual partner, the Protein Disulfide Oxidoreductase ( Tt PDO) that could replace regeneration of the enzyme. Altogether these results highlight not only a new anti-oxidative pathway but also a promising molecule for possible future biotechnological applications.