Redox regulation of yeast flavin-containing monooxygenase

The flavin-dependent monooxygenase from yeast (yFMO) oxidizes biological thiols such as cysteine, cysteamine, and glutathione. The enzyme makes a major contribution to the pools of oxidized thiols that, together with reduced glutathione from glutathione reductase, create the optimum cellular redox environment. We show that the activity of yFMO, as a soluble enzyme or in association with the ER membrane of microsomal fractions, is correlated with the redox potential. The enzyme is active under conditions normally found in the cytoplasm, but is inhibited as GSSG accumulates to give a redox potential similar to that found in the lumen of the ER. Site-directed mutations show that Cys 353 and Cys 339 participate in the redox regulation. Cys 353 is the principal residue in the redox-sensitive switch. We hypothesize that it may initiate formation of a mixed disulfide that is partially inhibitory to yFMO. The mixed disulfide may exchange with Cys 339 to form an intramolecular disulfide bond that is fully inhibitory.