Density-Gradient Centrifugation: Non-Ideal Sedimentation and the Interaction of Major and Minor Components

A small amount of southern bean mosaic virus was contained in a narrow zone after density-gradient centrifugation, but in a much wider zone after centrifugation with a large amount of a second virus. Zone-spreading of a major component by non-ideal sedimentation in density-gradient centrifugation can cause zone spreading of a minor component that the major component overlaps.