J Biol Chem, Vol. 273, Issue 39, 24992-24999, September 25, 1998

Kinetic Analysis of the Mechanism and Specificity of Protein-disulfide Isomerase Using Fluorescence-quenched Peptides

Vibeke Westphal, Jane C. Spetzler^§, Morten Meldal^§, Ulla Christensen, and Jakob R. Winther

From the Departments of  Yeast Genetics and ^§ Chemistry, Carlsberg Laboratory, Gamle Carlsberg Vej 10, DK-2500 Copenhagen Valby, Denmark and  Chemical Laboratory IV, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark

Protein-disulfide isomerase (PDI) is an abundant folding catalyst in the endoplasmic reticulum of eukaryotic cells. PDI introduces disulfide bonds into newly synthesized proteins and catalyzes disulfide bond isomerizations. We have synthesized a library of disulfide-linked fluorescence-quenched peptides, individually linked to resin beads, for two purposes: 1) to probe PDI specificity, and 2) to identify simple, sensitive peptide substrates of PDI. Using this library, beads that became rapidly fluorescent by reduction by human PDI were selected. Amino acid sequencing of the bead-linked peptides revealed substantial similarities. Several of the peptides were synthesized in solution, and a quantitative characterization of pre-steady state kinetics was carried out. Interestingly, a greater than 10-fold difference in affinity toward PDI was seen for various substrates of identical length. As opposed to conventional PDI assays involving larger polypeptides, the starting material for this assay is homogenous. It is furthermore simple and highly sensitive (requires less than 0.5 µg of PDI/assay) and thus opens the possibility for quantitative determination of PDI activity and specificity.