Comparisons of the low resolution structure of several small RNA-containing viruses.

A comparison is made of the structure of five small RNA-containing viruses and their accompnaying particles. The data obtained by a small-angle X-ray scattering at low resolution indicate that the radial distributions of electron density are quite similar for particles with similar percentage of RNA. Evidence is also presented indicating that the RNA probably penetrates the wall of the protein shell of most if not all of the virus particles.