rapid kinetic mechanism. The mechanisms by which spherical viruses assemble from
hundreds of capsid proteins around nucleic acid, however, are yet unresolved. Using time-
resolved small-angle X-ray scattering (TR-SAXS), we have been able to directly visualize
SV40 VP1 pentamers encapsidating short RNA molecules (500mers). This assembly
process yields T= 1 icosahedral particles comprised of 12 pentamers and one RNA …