Isomerase and chaperone activity of prolyl isomerase in the folding of carbonic anhydrase.

Several proteins have been discovered that either catalyze slow protein-folding reactions or assist folding in the cell. Prolyl isomerase, which has been shown to accelerate rate-limiting cis-trans peptidyl-proline isomerization steps in the folding pathway, can also participate in the protein-folding process as a chaperone. This function is exerted on an early folding intermediate of carbonic anhydrase, which is thereby prevented from aggregating, whereas the isomerase activity is performed later in the folding process.