SEROLOGICAL BEHAVIOUR OF TOBACCO MOSAIC VIRUS AND OF ITS PROTEIN FRAGMENTS

Abstract

The protein obtained when tobacco mosaic virus is disrupted with alkali is antigenically heterogeneous, whereas the intact virus is homogeneous. Aggregating the protein by acidification makes it again antigenically homogeneous. In comparable conditions, antibody/antigen ratio is considerably higher in precipitates formed by the protein than in those formed by the virus. Aggregating the protein restores the ratio to that given by the original virus. Electron-microscopic examination shows that in extreme antibody excess each virus particle is covered with a layer of antibody molecules. In these conditions, therefore, individual antibody molecules seem not to bridge directly between different virus particles, but they may do so in the zone of equivalence.