Carbohydrate scattering densities

To a first approximation, the sizes of isometric viruses can be estimated by comparing the experimental maxima and minima with the theoretical curves calculated for spheres and hollow spheres [492-494,504]. However, viruses are composed of protein shells and nucleic acid cores (with carbohydrate and lipid in more complex viral structures), so a full analysis requires the explicit consideration of non-uniform scattering densities. In addition, the principle of icosahedral symmetry in the assembly of the protein shell means that, at large Q, deviations from spherical symmetry will influence the scattering curve. The separation of the scattering curve... 

Scattering properties of some common carbohydrate residues [37]. The electron densities correspond to unhydrated residue volumes... 

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