GSH oxidation and protein synthesis in rabbit reticulocytes

Synthesis of protein in intact rabbit reticulocytes is inhibited by the thiol oxidizing agent, diamide, which oxidizes GSH to GSSG: 1. No incorporation of ¹⁴C-leucine into soluble protein is observed during the period when GSH is absent from the cells (lag period). 2. Recovery of protein synthesis occurs following regeneration of GSH. 3. The degree to which protein synthesis recovers is correlated with the length of the lag period which depends on the amount of diamide used: five minutes absence of GSH in the rabbit reticulocyte preparation permits complete recovery of protein synthesis. Ten minutes absence of GSH results in a markedly diminished rate of protein synthesis.