Human ER Oxidoreductin-1α (Ero1α) Undergoes Dual Regulation through Complementary Redox Interactions with Protein-Disulfide Isomerase.

In the mammalian endoplasmic reticulum, oxidoreductin-1α (Ero1α) generates protein disulfide bonds and transfers them specifically to canonical protein-disulfide isomerase (PDI) to sustain oxidative protein folding. This oxidative process is coupled to the reduction of O to HO on the bound flavin adenine dinucleotide cofactor. Because excessive thiol oxidation and HO generation cause cell death, Ero1α activity must be properly regulated. In addition to the four catalytic cysteines (Cys, Cys, Cys, and Cys) that are located in the flexible active site region, the Cys-Cys pair located at the base of another flexible loop is necessary for Ero1α regulation, although the mechanistic basis is not fully understood. The present study revealed that the Cys-Cys disulfide was reduced by PDI and other PDI family members during PDI oxidation. Differential scanning calorimetry and small angle X-ray scattering showed that mutation of Cys and Cys did not grossly affect the thermal stability or overall shape of Ero1α, suggesting that redox regulation of this cysteine pair serves a functional role. Moreover, the flexible loop flanked by Cys and Cys provides a platform for functional interaction with PDI, which in turn enhances the oxidative activity of Ero1α through reduction of the Cys-Cys disulfide. We propose a mechanism of dual Ero1α regulation by dynamic redox interactions between PDI and the two Ero1α flexible loops that harbor the regulatory cysteines.