Model of chemical capsid assembly from 12 molecules of C30H15O5N5, a pentagonally shaped molecule, shown to scale in front of an assembling poliovirus forming a capsid with the same icosahedral symmetry. The red and blue glowing volumes around the incomplete viral and chemical capsids represent the complementary electrostatic potential of the assembling parts. Modeling and graphics by Arthur Olson, The Scripps Research Institute. |