Valine 108, a chain-folding initiation site-belonging residue, crucial for the ribonuclease A stability.

Thermal denaturation of bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A and a set of its single variants, carrying replacements of hydrophobic residues in the postulated 106-118 chain folding initiation site, has been studied by differential scanning calorimetry. Ribonuclease A variants undergo a two-state thermal transition denaturation except for those with replacement of valine 108. Most mutations cause a significant destabilization of the protein compared to the wild-type, thus demonstrating the importance of hydrophobic residues at the 106-118 region in maintaining the stability of the molecule. Among them, those of valine 108 promote the greatest (14-27 degrees C) destabilization of the molecule. Therefore, valine 108 plays a crucial role for ribonuclease A stability. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.