Why large icosahedral viruses need scaffolding proteins

Despite a plethora of experimental data on the role of scaffolding proteins in the structure of viral shells, no theoretical/numerical explanations have been put forward to decipher the indisputable need of large shells for scaffolding proteins. This paper explains the underlying physical mechanisms for the formation of large viral shells and elucidates the "universal" role of scaffolding proteins in the formation of large spherical crystals.