Loss of infectivity of red clover mottle virus by lysolecithin

2-0-hexadecyl-glycero-3-phosphocholine (GPC) 1 mmol/l solution reduced the infectivity of red clover mottle virus (RCMV) by over 90%. The binding of GPC molecules to RCMV particles was investigated with 1H-nmr spectroscopy, which showed a striking interaction between virus particles and GPC molecules. In 10 mmol/l GPC solution each virus particle bound about 10(3) GPC molecules.