On Correlation of the Phenomena Associated with Chromosomes, Foreign Proteins and Viruses (Continued). III. Virus-Associated Phenomena

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Abstract
Certain phenomena associated with chromosomes, foreign proteins and viruses are discussed. The chief factors determining the course of protein-associated phenomena appear to be long- and short-range specific attractive forces, saturation of attractive forces through particle association, coulomb repulsion, protoplasmic pH, the brownian velocity and isoelectric points of the particles concerned and the availability of energy and building blocks from ancillary processes. The following relationships are suggested. Building blocks for genes and metabolites are adsorbed to the templet-sites of synthesis in the chromosome through the action of long- and short-range specific attractive forces. Elaboration of metabolites from the templets occurs as a result of coulomb repulsion between the templets and the synthesized molecules. Duplication of chromosomes and metabolite synthesis by chromosomes involve the production of essentially identical substances. In the former process, pH changes accompanying cell division reduce the coulomb repulsion so that these substances remain adsorbed to the chromosomic templets and become united to form a daughter chromosome. In the latter process the pH is such that the synthesized particles are automatically repelled from the sites of synthesis. Antigens utilize normal metabolic processes of the host to synthesize partial replicas of themselves. These partial replicas are the antibodies. Elaboration of the antibodies from the antigenic templet-sites of synthesis parallels metabolite elaboration. The antigen can only effect the synthesis of those of its subunits which resemble subunits of the host''s proteins, since the ancillary synthetic mechanisms of the host are too specific to be converted to the synthesis of foreign subunits. Recovery and immunity depend on the formation of synthetically inert complexes through the aggregation of antibodies with antigen. This aggregation (brought about by specific attractive forces) occurs at tissue-sites where the pH induces lesser coulomb repulsion between antigen and antibody than exists at the sites of antibody synthesis and elaboration. Antibodies are self-reproducing, so that once formed they can persist independently of the antigen. The immune state wanes as normal globulin synthesis displaces the competing process of antibody autosyn-thesis. Antibody production takes place in the globulin-producing cells. Viruses are able to reproduce because they possess a nucleic acid complement sufficient to insure the ancillary mechanisms for protein synthesis which the host does not provide. Virus reproduction occurs in tissues where the synthesized sub-virus units are not elaborated from their templets but remain adsorbed to become united in the formation of the daughter virus particle. For this reason the daughter particles remain in association with the parent virus leading to the formation of relatively large aggregates. These are the well known inclusion bodies of viral infection. The inclusion bodies are synthetically inert since the long range force of attraction becomes saturated in the large aggregate[long dash]building blocks for further synthesis being no longer adsorbed. In the relatively lasting immunity conferred by viral infections,antibody becomes established throughout the globulin-producing cells. In passive immunity the injected antibodies are unable to enter the cells in which antibody synthesis occurs, whereas the active antibodies of infection originate at these sites. Plant immunity is conferred by the persistence of virus in relatively inactive aggregates. New virus gaining access to the plant is adsorbed to these aggregates and inactivated by the association.