SMALL-ANGLE SCATTERING STUDIES ON CLATHRIN-COATED VESICLES

Structural information of clathrin-coated vesicles has been achieved by small-angle X-ray, neutron and dynamic light scattering studies. A characteristic peak in the X-ray and neutron scattering profile (in D2O) from intact coated vesicles is consistent with the polygonic structure of the clathrin coat. Neutron as well as dynamic light scattering gives a coated vesicle size close to 1000 angstrom. Dynamic light scattering detects a distribution of sizes for the coated vesicles demonstrating polydispersity of the samples. Quick freezing and slow thawing cause breakdown of the polygonic coat and production of large aggregates, as observed by dynamic light scattering and the reduction of the peak in the X-ray scattering profile as well as an increase in the scattering intensity at the lowest angles in the neutron scattering profile.