Ribonuclease and its inhibitor in red blood cells in CF

A disturbed activity of ribonuclease (RNAase) and its natural inhibitor was found in cystic fibrosis patients (CF); Heterozygotes had normal RNAase but increased inhibitor activities; both groups compared with age-matched controls. RNAase is involved in the breakdown of RNA. In the cell it is bound to an inhibitor and thus inactive (Bardoń 1976). Quantitative and qualitative differences of RNAase are found in CF (reviewed in Bardoń 1987).