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Protein Methodology

Small-Angle X-Ray Scattering from Proteins

Department of Physics, University of Missouri, Columbia

ABSTRACT

In the study of the structure of colloidal systems, especially in obtaining information about the size and shape of colloidal particles, small-angle x-ray scattering methods often can be applied. This paper outlines some experimental techniques and some procedures for data analysis useful in small-angle x-ray scattering.

I. THEORY

Except for the different angular range in which the scattering takes place, small-angle x-ray scattering is the same process as large-angle x-ray diffraction. In both cases, the x-rays from an x-ray tube are formed into a well-defined beam by some sort of collimating device. The beam then strikes the sample to be studied. Most of the radiation is either adsorbed in the sample or passes through it without any change of direction. A small fraction of the radiation, however, will be detected in directions other than the direction of the incident x-ray beam. The intensity of this radiation, called the scattered radiation, varies with the angle through which the radiation is scattered, and information about the sample can be obtained from the angular distribution of the scattered radiation.