Density-Wave Theory of the Capsid Structure of Small Icosahedral Viruses

We apply Landau theory of crystallization to explain and to classify the capsid structures of small viruses with spherical topology and icosahedral symmetry. We develop an explicit method which predicts the positions of centers of mass for the proteins constituting the viral capsid shell. Corresponding density distribution function which generates the positions has a universal form without any fitting parameter. The theory describes in a uniform way both the structures satisfying the well-known Caspar and Klug geometrical model for capsid construction and those violating it.