Stabilisation of Mouse and Human Interferons by Acid pH Against Inactivation Due to Shaking and Guanidine Hydrochloride

SummaryThe inactivation of poly(I)·poly(C)-induced and virus-induced human fibroblast interferon, virus-induced human leukocyte interferon, poly(I)·poly (C)-induced and virus-induced mouse tissue culture interferon and virus-induced mouse serum interferon by shaking and by guani-dine hydrochloride was studied. Only human leukocyte interferon was completely resistant to these treatments. All other interferons examined were largely inactivated, but a small amount of each preparation was resistant to inactivation. The residual activity from either treatment was completely resistant to the other.Inactivation by both shaking and guani-dine hydrochloride was prevented in acid (pH 2 and 3.5) conditions. Possible explanations for these observations are considered.