Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 21, 2026

Small and Wide Angle X-Ray Scattering Studies of Biological Macromolecules in Solution
Published on: January 8, 2013
Model-potential-free analysis of small angle scattering of proteins in solution: insights into solvent effects on
Tomonari Sumi1, Hiroshi Imamura, Takeshi Morita
1Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Okayama University, 3-1-1 Tsushima-Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan. sumi@okayama-u.ac.jp.
Abstract:
To extract protein-protein interaction from experimental small-angle scattering of proteins in solutions using liquid state theory, a model potential consisting of a hard-sphere repulsive potential and the excess interaction potential has been introduced. In the present study, we propose a model-potential-free integral equation method that extracts the excess interaction potential by using the experimental small-angle scattering data without specific model potential such as the Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO)-type model. Our analysis of experimental small-angle X-ray scattering data for lysozyme solution shows both the stabilization of contact configurations of protein molecules and a large activation barrier against the formation of the contact configurations in addition to the screened Coulomb repulsion. These characteristic features, which are not well-described by the DLVO-type model, are interpreted as solvent effects.
Related Concept Videos
Protein-protein Interfaces
Protein Diffusion in the Membrane
Noncovalent Attractions in Biomolecules
Four types of noncovalent interactions are hydrogen bonds, van der Waals forces, ionic bonds, and hydrophobic interactions.
Hydrogen bonding results from the electrostatic attraction of a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to a strong-electronegative atom like oxygen,...
Protein Folding
Protein Structure Is Critical to Its Biological Function
Proteins perform a wide range of biological functions such as catalyzing chemical reactions, providing...
Protein Folding
Factors Affecting Protein-Drug Binding: Drug-Related Factors
One crucial factor in drug-protein binding is the drug's lipophilicity or its affinity for fat. More lipophilic drugs tend to have higher binding extents. For example, highly lipophilic drugs like cloxacillin exhibit substantial protein binding, with as much as 95% of the drug binding to proteins. In...

