[Calculating light scattering when determining "true absorption magnitudes" of virus particles]

Results of the study by V. I. Permogorov et al. (Molecular Biology, 1977, 11, 134--138) on the absence of a deficit of hypochromism in intraphage DNA are discussed. It is deduced that the conclusion of V. I. Permogorov and coworkers is erroneous since it is based on: 1) incorrect interpretation of the results of determination of lightscattering contribution to the absorption of intact phages; 2) not taking into account the lightscattering contribution in the case of disrupted phages; 3) underestimation of the value of hyperchromism of melting of phage DNAs.