Direct determination of the lamellar structure of peripheral nerve myelin at moderate resolution (7A)

Low-angle X-ray diffraction patterns have been recorded from normal nerve and nerve swollen in glycerol solutions. The new X-ray data have a resolution of 7 A. Direct methods of structure analysis which include deconvolution of the auto-correlation function and sampling theorem reconstructions have been used in the interpretation of the X-ray data. Phases have been assigned to the first 12 orders of diffraction from normal nerve. Fourier syntheses at a resolution of 7 A are described and an absolute electron density scale is derived. A possible molecular interpretation of the electron density profile is given.