Abstract
A SPECIFIC reaction has been found between complexes of the zinc group metals and the bacterial virus, T 2 r +. Zinc ions (M/100) do not inactivate T 2 r +, but if a variety of metal-complexing agents are added to a solution containing zinc nitrate and T 2 r +, the virus is rapidly and irreversibly inactivated. Identical reactions occur with cadmium ions. Mercuric mercury inactivates T 2 as the free ion as well as when present as a complex ion. Cyanide complexes of all three metals and iodide complexes of cadmium and mercuric mercury inactivate the virus. Inactivation also occurs when a number of amino-acids (such as M/100 glycine or glutamic acid) and pure proteins (such as trypsin or chymotrypsin at 2 mgm./ml.) are used as metal-complexing agents. Versene complexes of zinc, cadmium or mercuric mercury do not affect the virus.
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References
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Barrington, L. F., and Kozloff, L. M., Science, 120, 110 (1954).
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KOZLOFF, L., HENDERSON, K. Action of Complexes of the Zinc Group Metals on the Tail Protein of Bacteriophage T 2 r + . Nature 176, 1169–1171 (1955). https://doi.org/10.1038/1761169b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/1761169b0
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