Spectrum of physical properties among the virions of a whole population of vaccinia virus particles.

Populations of virions released from cultures of L cells infected with vaccinia virus are composed of particles which differ substantially from each other in sedimentation rate and buoyant density. Clumps of two and three virions sediment enough faster than single particles so that fractions containing only singles and others with predominantly pairs can be isolated. The observed velocity range for single particles is much greater than that attributable to diffusion and convection in the centrifuge. Plaquing efficiency is three times higher in a small fraction of the slowest-moving virions than in the major part of the population, even though no size difference can be seen in the electron microscope. Isopycnic densities in potassium tartrate range from 1.15 to 1.23, enough to account for the observed range in velocities. Centrifugation was done in the BXIV zonal rotor at very low virion concentration (less than 10(8) per ml at any point in the spectrum). Virus count and state of aggregation were determined by electron microscopy.