Disulfide interchain links

Formation of Disulfide Cross-Links After folding into their native conformations, some proteins form intrachain or interchain disulfide bridges between Cys residues. In eukaryotes, disulfide bonds are common in proteins to be exported from cells. The cross-links formed in this way help to protect the native conformation of the protein molecule from denaturation in the extracellular environment, which can differ greatly from intracellular conditions and is generally oxidizing. 

FIGURE 15.3 Proinsulin is an 86-residue precursor to insulin (the sequence shown here is human proinsulin). Proteolytic removal of residues 31 to 65 yields insulin. Residues 1 through 30 (the B chain) remain linked to residues 66 through 87 (the A chain) by a pair of interchain disulfide bridges. 

Insulin is the protein that has been most investigated for pulmonary administration. Insulin levels are not maintained in diabetic patients, and precise control over blood glucose levels is needed. Insulin is a small protein, 5.8 kDa, which is composed of two chains that are covalently linked by an interchain disulfide bond. Currently, insulin is administered by injection, several times a day for many diabetics. The ability to deliver insulin via a noninvasive route would free diabetics from inconvenient, invasive insulin delivery methods and possibly eliminate secondary problems associated with diabetes, such as diabetic retinopathy. 

Figure 10.32. Proteolytic Activation of Chymotrypsinogen. The three chains of a-chymotrypsin are linked hy two interchain disulfide bonds (A to B, and B to C).

Disulfide (-S-S-) bonds play an important role in the structure and function of proteins. IgG molecules are comprised of two heavy and two light chains linked by interchain disulfide bonds. In addition, intrachain disulfide bonds are also present in IgGs. Alkyl thiols have been used to demonstrate the structural and functional role played by disulfide bonds. Reduction of IgGs with alkyl thiols under denaturing conditions results in separation of light and heavy chains. 

Notice that insulin consists of two chains (shown in blue and yellow) linked by two interchain disulfide bonds. The a chain (blue) also has an intrachain disulfide bond. [Drawn from IB2F.pdb. 

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