The protein disulfide isomerase AGR2 is essential for production of intestinal mucus.

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Citation

Park SW, Zhen G, Verhaeghe C, Nakagami Y, Nguyenvu LT, Barczak AJ, Killeen N, Erle DJ

The protein disulfide isomerase AGR2 is essential for production of intestinal mucus.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009 Apr 28;106(17):6950-5. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0808722106. Epub 2009 Apr 9.

PubMed ID
19359471 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

Protein disulfide isomerases (PDIs) aid protein folding and assembly by catalyzing formation and shuffling of cysteine disulfide bonds in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Many members of the PDI family are expressed in mammals, but the roles of specific PDIs in vivo are poorly understood. A recent homology-based search for additional PDI family members identified anterior gradient homolog 2 (AGR2), a protein originally presumed to be secreted by intestinal epithelial cells. Here, we show that AGR2 is present within the ER of intestinal secretory epithelial cells and is essential for in vivo production of the intestinal mucin MUC2, a large, cysteine-rich glycoprotein that forms the protective mucus gel lining the intestine. A cysteine residue within the AGR2 thioredoxin-like domain forms mixed disulfide bonds with MUC2, indicating a direct role for AGR2 in mucin processing. Mice lacking AGR2 were viable but were highly susceptible to colitis, indicating a critical role for AGR2 in protection from disease. We conclude that AGR2 is a unique member of the PDI family, with a specialized and nonredundant role in intestinal mucus production.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Polypeptides
NameUniProt ID
Mucin-2Q02817Details