Visible and ultraviolet light scattering by tobacco mosaic virus nucleic acid

Abstract

1. 1. The apparent particle weight of TMV RNA prepared by the heat method is sensitive to the conditions of preparation. A consistent particle weight of 1.7·10 6 has been obtained with a range of preparative conditions. 2. 2. The configuration of the RNA particle depends on the solvent salt concentration. It appears to be a rigid rod 1600 A long in water solution. Its length decreases with the addition of salt and reaches a value of 1050 A, based on a rod model. The configuration is uncertain in salt solution. 3. 3. The RNA undergoes a side by side reversible aggregation at salt concentrations greater than 0.3 M.