What Can We Learn from Wide-Angle Solution Scattering?

Extending collection of x-ray solution scattering data into the wide-angle regime (WAXS) can provide information not readily extracted from small angle (SAXS) data. It is possible to accurately predict WAXS scattering on the basis of atomic coordinate sets and thus use it as a means of testing molecular models constructed on the basis of crystallography, molecular dynamics (MD), cryo-electron microscopy or ab initio modeling. WAXS data may provide insights into the secondary, tertiary and quaternary structural organization of macromolecules. It can provide information on protein folding and unfolding beyond that attainable from SAXS data. It is particularly sensitive to structural fluctuations in macromolecules and can be used to generate information about the conformational make up of ensembles of structures co-existing in solution. Novel approaches to modeling of structural fluctuations can provide information on the spatial extent of large-scale structural fluctuations that are difficult to obtain by other means. Direct comparison with the results of MD simulations are becoming possible. Because it is particularly sensitive to small changes in structure and flexibility it provides unique capabilities for the screening of ligand libraries for detection of functional interactions. WAXS thereby provides an important extension of SAXS that can generate structural and dynamic information complementary to that obtainable by other biophysical techniques.