The phospholipase A2 activity of peroxiredoxin 6

Peroxiredoxin 6 (Prdx6) is a Ca2+-independent intracellular phospholipase A(2) (called aiPLA(2)) that is localized to cytosol, lysosomes, and lysosomal-related organelles. Activity is minimal at cytosolic pH but is increased significantly with enzyme phosphorylation, at acidic pH, and in the presence of oxidized phospholipid substrate; maximal activity with phosphorylated aiPLA(2) is approximate to 2 mu mol/min/mg protein. Prdx6 is a moonlighting protein that also expresses glutathione peroxidase and lysophosphatidylcholine acyl transferase activities. The catalytic site for aiPLA(2) activity is an S32-H26-D140 triad; S32-H26 is also the phospholipid binding site. Activity is inhibited by a serine protease inhibitor (diethyl p-nitrophenyl phosphate), an analog of the PLA(2) transition state [1-hexadecyl-3-(trifluoroethyl)-sn-glycero-2-phosphomethanol (MJ33)], and by two naturally occurring proteins (surfactant protein A and p67(phox)), but not by bromoenol lactone. aiPLA(2) activity has important physiological roles in the turnover (synthesis and degradation) of lung surfactant phospholipids, in the repair of peroxidized cell membranes, and in the activation of NADPH oxidase type 2 (NOX2). The enzyme has been implicated in acute lung injury, carcinogenesis, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, male infertility, and sundry other conditions, although its specific roles have not been well defined. Protein mutations and animal models are now available to further investigate the roles of Prdx6-aiPLA(2) activity in normal and pathological physiology.