Mechanism of glutathionylation of the active site thiols of peroxiredoxin 2

Peroxiredoxin 2 (Prdx2) undergoes ready glutathionylation, and glutaredoxin-catalyzed deglutathionylation provides an alternative mechanism to thioredoxin/thioredoxin reductase for recycling the reduced protein (Peskin et al. JBC 216, 3053, 2016). To elucidate the mechanism of glutathionylation, we have carried out kinetic studies using stopped flow and SDS PAGE plus product analysis by mass spectrometry. Kinetic modeling shows a mechanism in which exchange of Prdx2 disulfide with physiological concentrations of GSH occurs over seconds to minutes, initially at one active site to produce glutathionylated dimers linked by one disulfide. Exchange with GSH yields glutathionylation at both the peroxidatic (C_P) and resolving cysteines (C_R), the former predominating. Rate constants of 1.5 M^-1s^-1 and 0.021 s^-1 were determined for exchange-mediated glutathionylation and deglutathionylation. Similar exchange reactions subsequently occur at the second active site. The rate of reaction of the C_P sulfenic acid of WT Prdx2 with GSH (k = 10 M^-1s^-1) is 8 to 30 fold slower than when C_R is mutated to Ser, Trp, or Asp and this reaction cannot effectively compete with intramolecular condensation. Consequently, when H₂O₂ reacts with reduced Prdx2 in the presence of GSH, the initial product is predominately the Prdx disulfide and glutathionylation subsequently occurs by exchange. However, glutathionylation of C_R in the presence of H₂O₂ facilitates condensation of C_P sulfenic acid with GSH to give diglutathionylated products and suppresses hyperoxidation. This displaces equilibria and accelerates the conversion of Prdx2 to monomeric species. These results have implications for understanding the mechanism of relays between Prdx2 and other thiol proteins.