August Issue of Biopolymers is a special issue dedicated to SAXS.

New SAS analysis software is available called SASTBX. SASTBX provides a novel parameterization of shape using Zernicke polynomials. A databases of prior shapes parameterized using the Zernicke coefficients can be quickly searched with experimental SAXS data within seconds to provide an initial shape estimate. Further refinement of the shape can be achieved. SASTBX is also developing a refinement procedure using a starting atomistic model.

BioIsis uploading mechanism was fixed allowing multiple PDBs for ensemble modeling.

Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, hosted a two-day workshop on Biomolecular SAXS with attendees from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital on January 21 and 22, 2011. The workshop covered four sections: 1) SAXS Theory, 2) hands-on practical, 3) Techniques for preparing and assessing sample quality, and 4) SAXS based structural modeling.

Excellent computational approach for calculating SAXS profiles from proteins using a 2-body model per amino acid. The authors show, to high scattering angles, the new method is accurate and similar to CRYSOL.