EQUILIBRIUM SEDIMENTATION OF MACROMOLECULES IN DENSITY GRADIENTS

Abstract
A new method for the study of the molecular weight and partial specific volume of macromolecules, with some illustrations based on results with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and several viruses. The method involves observation of the equilibrium distribution of macromolecular material in a density gradient itself at equilibrium. The density gradient is established by the sedimentation of a low-molecular-weight solute in a solution subject to a constant centrifugal field.