HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Finlay, J. R. Articles by Teakle, D. S. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Finlay, J. R. Articles by Teakle, D. S. Agricola Articles by Finlay, J. R. Articles by Teakle, D. S.

The Effect of pH on the Particle Stability of a Phosphotungstatestained Tobacco Necrosis Virus

Department of Microbiology, University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, 4006

When preparations of a tobacco necrosis virus were negatively stained with 2% sodium or potassium phosphotungstate, pH 6 or 7, immediately before viewing in an electron microscope, many of the virus particles were degraded or were penetrated by the stain. However, when the potassium phosphotungstate was at pH 3, 4 or 5 few of the particles were degraded or were penetrated by the stain. A correlation between the pH of stability and the isoelectric point of the virus is suggested. Fixation for 20 min. in 5, 10 or 20% formaldehyde effectively stabilized most of the particles of tobacco necrosis virus when stained with neutral potassium phosphotungstate, whereas fixation in 1.25 or 2.5% formaldehyde did not.

^* Present address: Department of Primary Industries, Indooroopilly, Queensland, 4068.

Received 3 January 1969; accepted 13 February 1969.