Sensitivity to ultraviolet light of tobacco mosaic virus modified by cetyltrimethylammonium bromide.

Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) modified tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) virions so that the intrinsic fluorescence changed, viral infectivity decreased, sensitivity to RNase or UV irradiation increased, and coat protein subunits were released by the addition of Triton X-100. The change in fluorescence emission at 320 nm shifted to 340 nm was observed at 100 micrograms of CTAB per ml. This represents a change in the tryptophan environment inside the virion. At a lower concentration of CTAB, intersubunit contact was weakened, resulting in the release of coat protein subunits and an increase in RNase sensitivity. The release of coat protein took place gradually and two relatively stable intermediates were observed. Increase in UV sensitivity was observed at a lower concentration of CTAB and formation of pyrimidine hydrate was involved in this inactivation. The nature of the minor structural change leading to UV inactivation is discussed.