Abstract
WHILE investigating the characteristics of rat liver ribonuclease it was noted that several reagents which react with sulphydryl groups increased the activity of this enzyme in homogenates. 4 × 10−4 M silver or lead ions increased the activity approximately 25 per cent, while saturation of the test system with p-chloromercuribenzoic acid or phenyl mercuric chloride caused a similar increase. Cupric ion of 4 × 10−4 M concentration was, however, inhibitory to the extent of 50 per cent. The inhibitory action of cupric ions could be reversed by the addition of 2,3-dimercaptopropanol (BAL); but this compound had no effect on systems containing the other sulphydryl reacting agents, or on the enzyme alone. The accompanying graph shows the results of a typical experiment.
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References
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Snellman, O., Sylven, B., and Julen, C., Biochim. et Biophys. Acta, 7, 98 (1951).
Roth, J. S., Fed. Proc., 11, 277 (1952).
Pirotte, M., and Desreux, V., Bull. Soc. Chim. Belg., 61, 167 (1952).
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ROTH, J. Effect of Sulphydryl Reactants on Liver Ribonuclease. Nature 171, 127–128 (1953). https://doi.org/10.1038/171127a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/171127a0
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