Oxidative folding of proteins

The oxidative folding of proteins is reviewed and illustrated with bovine p ancreatic ribonuclease A (RNase A). The mutual effects of conformational fo lding and disulfide bond regeneration are emphasized, particularly the "loc king in" of native disulfide bonds by stable tertiary structure in disulfid e intermediates. Two types of structured metastable disulfide species are d iscerned, depending on the relative protection of their disulfide bonds and thiol groups. Four generic pathways for oxidative folding are identified a nd characterized.