Figure 8.

Plot of the average radius R_avg/b₀, defined as the radius of gyration of the vertices of the shell, versus the spontaneous radius of curvature R₀/b₀. The FvK number is fixed at a smaller value of $\overline{\gamma }=2$, which corresponds to a mildly flexible subunit. (Horizontal dashed lines) Average radius of the symmetric shells (A) and (D)–(G). It is possible to see a stair-step-like feature with each flat step corresponding to a single type of symmetric shell. With the exception of the shells (A) and (F), the corresponding shell types are all seen in the in vitro studies of empty clathrin coats. Representative shells are shown in Fig. 5. Note that the small radius of curvature of the shell (A) and the unreliable formation of shell (F) in the stochastic simulations could explain the absence of these shells in the experiments. To see this figure in color, go online.