Protein shape and assembly studied with X ray solution scattering: Fundaments and practice

Abstract

Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is a widely used technique to study non-crystalline systems such as protein solutions. The experimental description of application of SAXS to protein solution has been described in the previous chapter. The size and shape of proteins can be determined from the scattering profile at low-medium resolution using computer simulations. The generated structural information perfectly complements high-resolution data resulting from other structural biology methodologies such as X-ray crystallography or nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). In this chapter, the methods employed in a common protein SAXS experiment are briefly reviewed, covering diverse aspects ranging from data collection and analysis to computer modeling and docking procedures