Rapid mixing methods for exploring the kinetics of protein folding

Information on the time-dependence of molecular species is critical for elucidating reaction mechanisms in chemistry and biology. Rapid flow experiments involving turbulent mixing of two or more solutions continue to be the main source of kinetic information on protein folding and other biochemical processes, such as ligand binding and enzymatic reactions. Recent advances in mixer design and detection methods have opened a new window for exploring conformational changes in proteins on the microsecond time scale. These developments have been especially important for exploring early stages of protein folding. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.