The reactivity of the disulphide bonds of bovine pancreatic ribonuclease with glutathione.

1. Bovine pancreatic ribonuclease is not reduced by GSH at near-physiological concentrations and pH. 2. Disruption of the structure of ribonuclease by proteolytic enzymes leads to products that can be reduced by GSH. 3. At higher temperatures the disulphide bonds of ribonuclease are completely reduced by GSH in a coupled system. The T(tr) is 51 degrees and this has been found to be lower than the T(tr) for the abnormal tyrosine residues under the same conditions.