The conserved histidine 106 of large thioredoxin reductases is likely to have a structural role but not a base catalyst function

The catalytic activity of selenocysteine-containing thioredoxin reductases can be mimicked by cysteine-variants if the local environment at the C-terminal redox center supports thiol activation. This concept of a linear catalytic site was challenged by structural data suggesting that the invariant residue His106 functions as a base catalyst for the dithiol-disulphide exchange reaction between enzyme and substrate. As reported here, we changed His106 to asparagine, glutamine, and phenylalanine in various C-terminal mutants of Drosophila melanogaster thioredoxin reductase. The catalytic activity dropped considerably, yet pH-profiles did not reveal differences, rendering a function for His106 as a base catalyst unlikely. Interestingly, the phenylalanine-mutants, designed as negative controls were the most active mutants which suggests rather a structural role of His106.