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Biophysical Studies on Rhinovirus and Poliovirus

I. Morphology of Viral Ribonucleoprotein

Department of Virology and Epidemiology, Baylor University College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77025

ABSTRACT

An explanation has been sought for the high buoyant density of rhinoviruses, which are classified as acid-sensitive picornaviruses. Heat degradation of purified preparations of rhinovirus type 1B and poliovirus type LSc leads to the extrusion of ribonucleoprotein strands. Contour lengths of these strands were measured by electron microscopy, and the molecular weights of rhinovirus and poliovirus ribonucleic acid (RNA) were determined. Values of 2 x 10⁶ and 4 x 10⁶ daltons were obtained for the molecular weight of poliovirus and rhinovirus RNA, respectively. This additional nucleic acid in the rhinovirion probably accounts for the increased density and may be related to the acid sensitivity of the rhinovirus.