Engineered Prx-LCA2 fusion protein restores oxidative skin damage via enhanced intracellular peroxidase delivery

Abstract This study developed a novel antioxidant fusion protein Prx-LCA2 by conjugating peroxidase Prx with the LCA2 carrier derived from Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin, aiming to achieve efficient intracellular delivery for oxidative damage remediation. The fusion protein Prx-LCA2 was su...

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Main Authors: Di Liu, Yafen Zhan, Jiaqi Qu, Hongping Qiao, Na Li, Yeli Zhang, Xiaoying Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-06-01
Series:AMB Express
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13568-025-01906-5
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author Di Liu
Yafen Zhan
Jiaqi Qu
Hongping Qiao
Na Li
Yeli Zhang
Xiaoying Wu
author_facet Di Liu
Yafen Zhan
Jiaqi Qu
Hongping Qiao
Na Li
Yeli Zhang
Xiaoying Wu
author_sort Di Liu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study developed a novel antioxidant fusion protein Prx-LCA2 by conjugating peroxidase Prx with the LCA2 carrier derived from Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin, aiming to achieve efficient intracellular delivery for oxidative damage remediation. The fusion protein Prx-LCA2 was successfully expressed in E. coli and purified. Fluorescence labeling demonstrated efficient cellular internalization of the fusion protein. In vitro, H2O2-induced oxidative stress in A431 cells was alleviated by Prx-LCA2 treatment, as evidenced by increased cell viability, reduced ROS levels, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities, and decreased levels of MDA and PCG. In vivo, H2O2-induced skin oxidative damage in mice was significantly ameliorated by Prx-LCA2 treatment, including improvement in antioxidant enzyme activities and reduction in oxidative damage markers (MDA, PCG and 8-OHdG). Additionally, Prx-LCA2 increased HYP content in the skin, indicating improved collagen integrity. Histological analysis of mouse skin further confirmed the therapeutic efficacy of Prx-LCA2. The enterotoxin-derived carrier system exhibited excellent biosafety profile with no observed cytotoxicity or skin irritation. This microbial-based protein engineering strategy provides a promising platform for transdermal delivery of antioxidant therapeutics.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2191-0855
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher SpringerOpen
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series AMB Express
spelling doaj-art-2917f0a803d64f8eb9bcdcc45a012b6e2025-08-20T03:47:16ZengSpringerOpenAMB Express2191-08552025-06-0115111610.1186/s13568-025-01906-5Engineered Prx-LCA2 fusion protein restores oxidative skin damage via enhanced intracellular peroxidase deliveryDi Liu0Yafen Zhan1Jiaqi Qu2Hongping Qiao3Na Li4Yeli Zhang5Xiaoying Wu6College of Biological Sciences and Technology and Center for Veterinary Medicine, Taiyuan Normal UniversityCollege of Biological Sciences and Technology and Center for Veterinary Medicine, Taiyuan Normal UniversityCollege of Biological Sciences and Technology and Center for Veterinary Medicine, Taiyuan Normal UniversityCollege of Biological Sciences and Technology and Center for Veterinary Medicine, Taiyuan Normal UniversityCollege of Biological Sciences and Technology and Center for Veterinary Medicine, Taiyuan Normal UniversityCollege of Biological Sciences and Technology and Center for Veterinary Medicine, Taiyuan Normal UniversityCollege of Biological Sciences and Technology and Center for Veterinary Medicine, Taiyuan Normal UniversityAbstract This study developed a novel antioxidant fusion protein Prx-LCA2 by conjugating peroxidase Prx with the LCA2 carrier derived from Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin, aiming to achieve efficient intracellular delivery for oxidative damage remediation. The fusion protein Prx-LCA2 was successfully expressed in E. coli and purified. Fluorescence labeling demonstrated efficient cellular internalization of the fusion protein. In vitro, H2O2-induced oxidative stress in A431 cells was alleviated by Prx-LCA2 treatment, as evidenced by increased cell viability, reduced ROS levels, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities, and decreased levels of MDA and PCG. In vivo, H2O2-induced skin oxidative damage in mice was significantly ameliorated by Prx-LCA2 treatment, including improvement in antioxidant enzyme activities and reduction in oxidative damage markers (MDA, PCG and 8-OHdG). Additionally, Prx-LCA2 increased HYP content in the skin, indicating improved collagen integrity. Histological analysis of mouse skin further confirmed the therapeutic efficacy of Prx-LCA2. The enterotoxin-derived carrier system exhibited excellent biosafety profile with no observed cytotoxicity or skin irritation. This microbial-based protein engineering strategy provides a promising platform for transdermal delivery of antioxidant therapeutics.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13568-025-01906-5LCA2 protein carrierPeroxidase activityOxidative stressSkin antioxidant defense
spellingShingle Di Liu
Yafen Zhan
Jiaqi Qu
Hongping Qiao
Na Li
Yeli Zhang
Xiaoying Wu
Engineered Prx-LCA2 fusion protein restores oxidative skin damage via enhanced intracellular peroxidase delivery
AMB Express
LCA2 protein carrier
Peroxidase activity
Oxidative stress
Skin antioxidant defense
title Engineered Prx-LCA2 fusion protein restores oxidative skin damage via enhanced intracellular peroxidase delivery
title_full Engineered Prx-LCA2 fusion protein restores oxidative skin damage via enhanced intracellular peroxidase delivery
title_fullStr Engineered Prx-LCA2 fusion protein restores oxidative skin damage via enhanced intracellular peroxidase delivery
title_full_unstemmed Engineered Prx-LCA2 fusion protein restores oxidative skin damage via enhanced intracellular peroxidase delivery
title_short Engineered Prx-LCA2 fusion protein restores oxidative skin damage via enhanced intracellular peroxidase delivery
title_sort engineered prx lca2 fusion protein restores oxidative skin damage via enhanced intracellular peroxidase delivery
topic LCA2 protein carrier
Peroxidase activity
Oxidative stress
Skin antioxidant defense
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13568-025-01906-5
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