Thioredoxin shufflease and use thereof

摘要

The subject invention concerns a novel enzyme named thioredoxin shufflease, means for preparing the same, and procedures for using thioredoxin shufflease to fold proteins containing disulfide crosslinks. Thioredoxin shufflease is a generic term to define enzymes which have the following characteristics: (a) contain a single reactive thiol group; (b) catalyze the exchange of disulfides in a protein undergoing the refolding process; and (c) are not consumed in the oxidation/refolding process. Specifically exemplified is a thioredoxin shufflease produced from an E. coli thioredoxin gene.