Figure 8
From: Rule-based spatial modeling with diffusing, geometrically constrained molecules
Self-assembly of spheric structures: The used monomer geometry is displayed in panel (a). All six components of the complex are handled together as a rigid body, so no force calculations have to be performed among the components themselves. It is composed of a triangle of "outer" components of type A, which will later be at the outer side of the spheres and a triangle of "inner" components of type B forming the sphere's inside. Some assembled spheres of approximately the same size can be observed (b). Viewing one of them closer, the forming pentagons and hexagons are visible (c). When using dissociation rates a bit too high, small cyclic assemblies decay too fast to form whole spheres (d). On the other hand, when the dissociation rates are chosen too low, static, mal-formed complexes emerge (e). Occassionally, the separation of a big sphere into two smaller ones can be observed (f).