S-nitrosylation of peroxiredoxin 2 promotes oxidative stress-induced neuronal cell death in Parkinson's disease

Peroxiredoxins (Prx), a family of peroxidases that reduce intracellular peroxides with the thioredoxin system as the electron donor, are highly expressed in various cellular compartments. Among the antioxidant Prx enzymes, Prx2 is the most abundant in mammalian neurons, making it a prime candidate to defend against oxidative stress. Here we report that Prx2 is S-nitrosylated (forming SNOPrx2) by reaction with nitric oxide at two critical cysteine residues (C51 and C172), preventing its reaction with peroxides. We observed increased SNO-Prx2 in human Parkinson's disease (PD) brains, and S-nitrosylation of Prx2 inhibited both its enzymatic activity and protective function from oxidative stress. Dopaminergic neurons, which are lost in PD, become particularly vulnerable. Thus, our data provide a direct link between nitrosative/oxidative stress and neurodegenerative disorders such as PD.