Abstact

Three peroxiredoxins (Prxs) were identified in Thermotoga maritima, which possesses neither glutathione nor typical thioredoxins: one of the Prx6 class; one 2-Cys PrxBCP; and a unique hybrid protein containing an N-terminal 1-Cys PrxBCP domain fused to a flavin mononucleotide-containing nitroreductase (Ntr) domain. No peroxidase activity was detected for Prx6, whereas both bacterioferritin comigratory proteins (BCPs) were regenerated by a NADH/thioredoxin reductase/glutaredoxin (Grx)-like system, constituting a unique peroxide removal system. Only two of the three Grx-like proteins were able to support peroxidase activity. The inability of TmGrx1 to regenerate oxidized 2-Cys PrxBCP probably results from the thermodynamically unfavorable difference in their disulfide/dithiol E(m) values, -150 and -315 mV, respectively. Mutagenesis of the Prx-Ntr fusion, combined with kinetic and structural analyses, indicated that electrons are not transferred between its two domains. However, their separate activities could function in a complementary manner, with peroxide originating from the chromate reductase activity of the Ntr domain reduced by the Prx domain.