Abstract
A duble-stranded RNA phage, φ6, has been found to be inactivated by ascorbic acid (ASA), and the reaction mechanism of inactivation of the phage by ASA has been studied. The addition of hydrogen peroxide or cupric ion into the reaction mixture enhanced the inactivation. In contrast, removal of oxygen from the reaction mixture, and the addition of reducing agents, chelating agents or general radical scavengers into the reaction mixture prevented the inactivation. Dehydroascorbic acid or hydrogen peroxide had no direct effect on the phage. The results indicate that the free radical intermediates produced during the course of the autoxidation of ASA are responsible for the inactivation of the phage; free radical mechanisms are involved in the inactivation reaction. The experiments using specific radical scavengers indicate that ・O_2, ・ OH and 1^O_2 are involved in the inactivation reaction, and that ・OH would be mainly responsible for the inactivating effect on the phage. Key Words: vitarnin C, ascorbic acid, double-stranded RNA phage, phage θ6, virus inactivation
