Relationship of Molecular Size of rIn:rCn (Poly I:C) to Induction of Interferon and Host Resistance

Abstract

Preparations of high molecular weight rI_n:rC_n were exposed to sonic radiation. A decrease in the average molecular weight of the polynucleotide complexes after treatment was accompanied by an exponential decrease in viscosity of the preparation, an increase in the sensitivity of the polynucleotide complex to degradation by pancreatic ribonuclease, a decrease in the thermal transition midpoint, and a decrease in the hyperchromicity observed during thermal transition.