Below is an overview of the programs that we used during Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) data processing. This should help clear up how a number of SAXS programs relate to each other (this is not all inclusive).
Overall, I feel like there is some hand waiving in regards to the consistency of the results from the SAXS data processing programs. However, if you cannot attain a crystal of your macromolecule then this biophysical method is probably worth trying.
A quick introduction into what is needed for a SAXS experiment? In addition, you should contact your respective beam line scientist.
The following links are for more detailed information about the programs mentioned above:
Crysol – generates scattering curves from crystal structures
SASREF – rigid body modeling from crysol (see above)
Primus – low resolution data, Guinier plot
IGOR – low resolution data, Guinier plot
GNOM – uses all scattering data as a distrubtion function to determine the shape of the protein
Gasbor – all Q, chain dummy atoms
Dammin – low Q, using dummy atoms
Supcomb – aligns mutiple models to find the most probable
Damaver – aligns mutiple models to find the most probable
Credo/Chadd/Gloopy – model in missing domains
If you end up getting really stuck there is a forum that maybe able to help. Finally, I would like to thank, Jen, for working through these programs.