Inactivation of human peroxiredoxin I during catalysis as the result of the oxidation of the catalytic site cysteine to cysteine-sulfinic acid

By following peroxiredoxin I (Prx I)-dependent NADPH oxidation spectrophotometrically, we observed that Prx I activity decreased gradually with time. The decay in activity was coincident with the conversion of Prx I to a more acidic species as assessed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Mass spectral analysis and studies with Cys mutants determined that this shift in pI was due to selective oxidation of the catalytic site Cys⁵¹-SH to Cys⁵¹-SO₂H. Thus, Cys⁵¹-SOH generated as an intermediate during catalysis appeared to undergo occasional further oxidation to Cys⁵¹-SO₂H, which cannot be reversed by thioredoxin. The presence of H₂O₂ alone was not sufficient to cause oxidation of Cys⁵¹ to Cys⁵¹-SO₂H. Rather, the presence of complete catalytic components (H₂O₂, thioredoxin, thioredoxin reductase, and NADPH) was necessary, indicating that such hyperoxidation occurs only when Prx I is engaged in the catalytic cycle. Likewise, hyperoxidation of Cys¹⁷²/Ser¹⁷² mutant Prx I required not only H₂O₂, but also a catalysis-supporting thiol (dithiothreitol). Kinetic analysis of Prx I inactivation in the presence of a low steady-state level (<1 μm) of H₂O₂ indicated that Prx I was hyperoxidized at a rate of 0.072% per turnover at 30°C. Hyperoxidation of Prx I was also detected in HeLa cells treated with H₂O₂.