NUCLEIC ACID OF MURINE ENCEPHALOMYELITIS VIRUS PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL STUDIES
Studies concerning some of the chemical and physical properties of ribonucleates isolated from highly purified encephalomyocarditis virus are presented. Base analyses were performed by both an alkali degradation procedure and hydrolysis with snake venom phosphodiesterase. In addition to the four common bases, adenine, guanine, cytosine, and uracil, several minor components have been found in both the alkali and diesterase hydrolysates. Since much of the work was done with P32-labelled ribonucleates, it has not been possible to identify any of the minor components.Ultracentrifugal studies performed in the Spinco model E analytical centrifuge revealed a single peak corresponding to a S20, w of 3.2. This low S20, w was confirmed by centrifugation in a sucrose gradient. These results, in addition to those obtained by column chromatography, have been interpreted as being indicative of a considerable degree of fragmentation, probably as a result of the presence of trace amounts of ribonucleases or hydroxyl ions during the extraction procedure.