Factors Influencing Degree of Infectivity of Enterovirus Ribonucleic Acid. ∗

Abstract

Summary

In preparations of RNA made from polioviruses by phenol extraction technic, the infectivity of RNA which is rendered undetectable by dilution in isotonic or hypotonic salt solutions can be quantitatively recovered by addition of NaCl or KCl. This is true whether the exposure to low salt concentrations is brief, or as long as 24 hours. Reversibility of infectivity by hypertonic salt concentrations would seem to preclude participation of residual RNAase in the preparation itself as a major cause of inactivation of RNA infectivity with alterations in molarity.