The incorporation of radioactive phosphorus in the influenza virus and its distribution in serologically active virus fractions

Abstract

1. When the D.S.P. strain of influenza virus A is grown in eggs into which 100 μc. of radioactive inorganic phosphate has been introduced the virus incorporates³²P into its structure.2. Some 20–25% of the virus³²P is found in the virus phospholipid; the remainder is combined with the virus protein and is probably present in the virus nucleic acid.3. When the virus is disintegrated by ether treatment with the liberation of separate red-cell agglutinating and complement-fixing ‘soluble antigen’ particles the non-lipid³²P is found to be associated with the soluble antigen fraction and not with the haemagglutinin.4. It is suggested that the complement-fixing soluble antigen is a nucleoprotein while the haemagglutinin is a phosphorus-free protein.