Stability of chymotrypsin and tobacco mosaic virus decreased by ultraviolet radiation

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Abstract
When proteins with specific activities, such as enzymes or viruses, are exposed to u.-v. radiation, the specific activity need not be lost as a result of the first of a series of alterations. Chymotrypsin molecules can be altered by irradiation so that their stability at temps. around 37[degree] at pH 7 is decreased although they are still proteolytically active. The increased rate at which tobacco mosaic virus is denatured by heat after irradiation results from a series of changes following a step which is associated with the loss of specific activity (infectivity.) Quantum yields for inactivation of chymotrypsin and tobacco mosaic virus computed from the data obtained in this work agree with those obtained by previous workers.