Negatively Charged Lipids Are Essential for Functional and Structural Switch of Human 2-Cys Peroxiredoxin II

The function of ubiquitous 2-Cys peroxiredoxins (Prxs) can be converted alternatively from peroxidases to molecular chaperones. This conversion has been reported to occur by the formation of high-molecular-weight (HMW) complexes upon overoxidation of or ATP/ADP binding to 2-Cys Prxs, but its mechanism is not well understood. Here, we show that upon binding to phosphatidylserine or phosphatidylglycerol dimeric human 2-Cys PrxII (hPrxII) is assembled to trefoil-shaped small oligomers (possibly hexamers) with full chaperone and null peroxidase activities. Spherical HMW complexes are formed, only when phosphatidylserine or phosphatidylglycerol is bound to overoxidized or ATP/ADP-bound hPrxII. The spherical HMW complexes are lipid vesicles covered with trefoil-shaped oligomers arranged in a hexagonal lattice pattern. Thus, these lipids with a net negative charge, which can be supplied by increased membrane trafficking under oxidative stress, are essential for the structural and functional switch of hPrxII and possibly most 2-Cys Prxs.