The disulphide bonds of human and rabbit γ-globulins

Abstract

1. The reaction of the disulphide bonds of the predominant species of human and rabbit gamma-globulins (the 7s gamma-globulins) with sulphite was studied in the presence and absence of denaturing agents and heavy-metal reagents. 2. The total number of bonds reacting/mol. of mol.wt. 160000 was approx. 18 for human and 20 for rabbit gamma-globulin. 3. Six S.S bonds/mol. of human and 6.5 S.S bonds/mol. of rabbit gamma-globulin reacted with sulphite alone at pH6. These appeared to include all the interchain S.S bonds. 4. The number of free SH groups was less than 0.2/mol. of human and less than 0.3/mol. of rabbit gamma-globulin.