The redox-regulated open/closed conformational switch of hPDI endows the protein with versatile target-binding capacities for its enzymatic and chaperone functions.
Protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) catalyzes the formation of native disulfides of peptide chains from either the reduced form or randomly joined disulfides. So that thiols situated at distant parts of the polypeptide chain can be joined together to form the native disulfides, the polypeptide chain has to be folded, at least to some extent, into the native conformation. It is suggested that PDI promotes folding of the chains as well as formation of the disulfides and plays a role similar to the chaperones in the folding process. PDI is known to be a multifunctional protein and capable of nonspecific peptide binding. These properties are closely connected to its possible function as a chaperone. Thioredoxin, which has an active site sequence similar to that of PDI but lacks the property of peptide binding, is much less efficient as a disulfide isomerase.
Accumulated unfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) trigger the unfolded protein response (UPR) to increase ER protein folding capacity. ER proteostasis and UPR signaling need to be regulated in a precise and timely manner. Here, we identify phosphorylation of protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), one of the most abundant and critical folding catalysts in the ER, as an early event during ER stress. The secretory pathway kinase Fam20C phosphorylates Ser357 of PDI and responds rapidly to various ER stressors. Phosphorylation of Ser357 induces an open conformation of PDI and turns it from a "foldase" into a "holdase", which is critical for preventing protein misfolding in the ER. Phosphorylated PDI also binds to the lumenal domain of IRE1a, a major UPR signal transducer, and attenuates excessive IRE1a activity. Importantly, PDI-S359A knock-in mice display enhanced IRE1a activation and liver damage under acute ER stress. We conclude that the Fam20C-PDI axis constitutes a post-translational response to maintain ER proteostasis and plays a vital role in protecting against ER stressinduced cell death.
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