Novel thioredoxin-related transmembrane protein TMX4 has reductase activity

J Biol Chem. 2010 Mar 5;285(10):7135-42. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M109.082545. Epub 2010 Jan 7.

Abstract

In the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), a number of thioredoxin (Trx) superfamily proteins are present to enable correct disulfide bond formation of secretory and membrane proteins via Trx-like domains. Here, we identified a novel transmembrane Trx-like protein 4 (TMX4), in the ER of mammalian cells. TMX4, a type I transmembrane protein, was localized to the ER and possessed a Trx-like domain that faced the ER lumen. A maleimide alkylation assay showed that a catalytic CXXC motif in the TMX4 Trx-like domain underwent changes in its redox state depending on cellular redox conditions, and, in the normal state, most of the endogenous TMX4 existed in the oxidized form. Using a purified recombinant protein containing the Trx-like domain of TMX4 (TMX4-Trx), we confirmed that this domain had reductase activity in vitro. The redox potential of this domain (-171.5 mV; 30 degrees C at pH 7.0) indicated that TMX4 could work as a reductase in the environment of the ER. TMX4 had no effect on the acceleration of ER-associated degradation. Because TMX4 interacted with calnexin and ERp57 by co-immunoprecipitation assay, the role of TMX4 may be to enable protein folding in cooperation with these proteins consisting of folding complex in the ER.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • Animals
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum / enzymology
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum / ultrastructure
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism*
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Oxidoreductases / genetics
  • Oxidoreductases / metabolism*
  • Protein Disulfide Reductase (Glutathione) / genetics
  • Protein Disulfide Reductase (Glutathione) / metabolism*
  • Protein Disulfide-Isomerases / genetics
  • Protein Disulfide-Isomerases / metabolism
  • Protein Folding
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Thioredoxins / genetics
  • Thioredoxins / metabolism*
  • Tissue Distribution

Substances

  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Thioredoxins
  • Oxidoreductases
  • Protein Disulfide Reductase (Glutathione)
  • TMX4 protein, human
  • Protein Disulfide-Isomerases
  • PDIA3 protein, human