Molecular Weights and Other Properties of Viruses as Determined by Light Absorption

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Abstract
Molecular wt. values ([image]) for viruses were detd. in dilute aq. solns. by finding the change in optical density (D) with wave-length ([lambda]) and the indices of refraction (n) of the solvent and soln. and relating these to [image] by Einstein''s equation for light-scattering of mixts. n was detd. by a Zeiss dipping refractometer, and the light absorption detd. in a spectrophotometer at various [lambda]s and concs. Purified PR8 strain of influenza virus from infectious chick allantoic fluid and purified bushy stunt virus from diseased Datura stramonium plants were used. [image] was 322 million for influenza virus and 9 million for bushy stunt virus. Since the light-scattering and thus the light-absorptive powers of solns. are very sensitive to changes in particle size, shape and interaction, the light-absorption method was used to detn. the isoelectric point from the point of max. coagulation of the virus particles.