Say I transduce a nucleic acid sequence using a viral vector that encodes a protein having at least one disulfide linkage. For simplicity, let’s assume that there are only two cysteines in the protein and the side chains of these cysteines are close together when the protein is folded with the cysteines unlinked (reduced/thiol). Also assume that the cell being transduced is a eukaryotic cell (mouse or human). What is the chance that this disulfide will be linked (oxidized) when expressed by the cell? Does this happen pretty reliably? What might it depend on?
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$\begingroup$ Could you please clarify. 1. By the use of the word transduce I assume you mean by a viral vector. Is that correct?If so, what vector? 2. By cell I assume you mean a eukaryotic cell rather than a bacterial cell. Perhaps you could edit your answer and also change the title to something more precisely descriptive like "Formation of disulphide bonds in proteins expressed after transduction". $\endgroup$– DavidCommented Sep 20, 2019 at 9:35
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$\begingroup$ In the protein intracellular or secreted? $\endgroup$– canadianerCommented Sep 21, 2019 at 20:13
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$\begingroup$ @canadianer The sequence includes a secretion signal and meant to be secreted. These comments are giving me some ideas about what the formation of disulfides might depend on. $\endgroup$– WaterMoleculeCommented Sep 21, 2019 at 20:39
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$\begingroup$ A lot depends on the nature of the disulfide; it may form in the ER during folding. It could also form in the oxidizing extracellular environment. I don’t have any experience with expressing exogenous proteins in eukaryotic cells so I can’t be of much help. $\endgroup$– canadianerCommented Sep 22, 2019 at 6:44
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I am not an expert on expression of genes from viral vectors, but as I requested the poster to clarify his question I feel an obligation to provide at least a partial answer.
The first question to address is whether the mRNA for the protein of interest is expressed in the same way as normal cell proteins. In the case of the lentovirus vectors which are integrated into the genome there is no reason to think otherwise.
In this case the factors determining the formation of disulphide bonds would be the same as for any similar normal cell protein translated from mRNA.
In summary:
Only secreted proteins have disulphide bonds.
In eukaryotes these protein are synthesised on ribosomes on the endoplasmic reticulum, which obviously must be present in the cell in which one is trying to express the protein (i.e. it must be capable of secreting proteins). One assumes that if one is restoring a function found in normal cells this will be so.
Oxidation of sulphydryl groups occurs in the intercisternal space before secretion. It involves a number of proteins and there are reduction and chaperone systems to deal with inappropriate oxidation, which occurs to a greater or lesser extent. A recent freely-accessible account of this topic can be found in a Cold Spring Harbor perspective by Neil Bulleid in 2012.
The (small?) proportion of incorrectly oxidised proteins that are not recycled are presumably removed by the cellular mechanisms that degrade aberrant proteins.
It would not seem possible to answer in a literal manner the question what the numerical ‘chance’ is of correct oxidation, but this would not seem to be pertinent. The question of interest is whether the protein would be oxidised to the correct native structure with the same efficiency as in normal circumstances. There seems no reason to think it would not.
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$\begingroup$ This answer gives me ideas about how to start understanding my problem and what issues might be involved (the viral vector, the secretory pathway, protein disulfide isomerases). $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 22, 2019 at 20:09
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$\begingroup$ I know you said you are not an expert on gene expression from viral vectors, but you mention "whether the mRNA for the protein of interest is expressed in the same way as normal cell proteins." This implies that there might be vectors that don't express proteins in the normal way. Did you have a particular example in mind? $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 22, 2019 at 20:12
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1$\begingroup$ @WaterMolecule — The way you phrased your question suggested an assumption that the insertion into the viral vector and it’s incorporation into the host genome were done correctly and that the gene would be transcribed normally. Thus your main concern was disulphide bond formation. I was able to answer the latter. However the former is not necessarily straightforward, and if that is a concern you would need to read specialist reviews of that area. $\endgroup$– DavidCommented Sep 22, 2019 at 20:51