Synaptic Vesicles Studied by SAXS: Derivation and Validation of a Model Form Factor

We discuss different spherically symmetric and anisotropic form factor models and test them against high resolution synchrotron based small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) data from synaptic vesicles (SVs), isolated from rat brain. Anisotropy of the model form factors is found to be a key ingredient for the description of the native synaptic vesicle structure. We describe changes in structural parameters due to protease digestion of SVs, and present SAXS data of SVs recorded under different pH conditions.