Disintegration of Tobacco Mosaic Virus in Urea Solutions

Abstract

This virus is rapldly disintegrated in 6 [image] urea and 0.1 [image] phosphate buffer at pH 7, with appearance of sulfhydryl groups, into low molecular weight protein components which contain no nucleic acid, exhibit no double refraction of flow, are insoluble in dilute buffers, and possess no virus activity. The rate of degradation varied widely with urea and electrolyte concs., type of electrolyte, pH, and temp. The results obtained may provide information on the nature of the forces which hold together the large virus molecule.