A newly identified flavoprotein disulfide reductase Har protects Streptococcus pneumoniae against hypothiocyanous acid.

ABSTRACT: Hypothiocyanous acid (HOSCN) is an antimicrobial oxidant produced by heme peroxidases from hydrogen peroxide and thiocyanate anions in secretory fluids such as in the human respiratory tract. While some respiratory tract pathogens display tolerance to HOSCN, there might be therapeutic value in targeting bacterial antioxidant systems that protect against HOSCN; however, surprisingly little is known about the bacterial defense mechanisms involved. We hypothesized that tolerant pathogens have a flavoprotein disulfide reductase (FDR) that uses NAD(P)H to directly reduce HOSCN, similar to thioredoxin reductase in mammalian cells. Here, we report the discovery of a previously uncharacterized FDR with HOSCN reductase activity, which we term Har, in Streptococcus pneumoniae, a bacterium previously

SUBMITTER: Shearer HL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9483559 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature