Intermediates in the refolding of ribonuclease at subzero temperatures. 2. Monitoring by inhibitor binding and catalytic activity.

The kinetics of refolding of ribonuclease A were monitored by the return of catalytic activity and inhibitor binding at -15 degrees C in 35% methanol cryosolvent at pH* 3.0 and 6.0. Catalytic activity was measured with cytidine 2',3'-cyclic monophosphate as substrate; inhibitor binding was determined with the competitive inhibitor cytidine 2'-monophosphate. Biphasic kinetics were observed at pH* 3.0 for both return of catalytic activity and inhibitor binding. At pH* 6.0 the rate of return of catalytic activity was monophasic, whereas that of inhibitor binding was biphasic. For both inhibitor binding and catalytic activity one of the observed rates was pH-dependent. Full return of catalytic activity was obtained at the completion of the refolding process. The observations are interpreted in terms of two parallel pathways of refolding for slow-refolding ribonuclease, with several native-like, partially folded intermediate states on the minor slow-refolding pathway. Of particular note is the presence of at least one such species that has inhibitor-binding capacity but not catalytic activity. This may be rationalized in terms of the known native structure. In addition, an intermediate is postulated which has the incorrect Pro-93 conformation and only partial catalytic activity (42% of the native). The slowest observed transient is attributed to the isomerization of this proline residue and return of full catalytic activity.