Protein folding is of primary importance in understanding biological mechanisms and cellular functions. Indeed, misfolding can lead to diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

The kinetics of protein folding is particularly important as it helps us understand the pathways and timescales involved.

Stopped-Flow is a widely used technique for studying protein folding kinetics as the rapid mixing and spectroscopic methods can allow us to follow the kinetics of protein conformational changes in real time.

Using this technique, we can measure the rate of folding and unfolding, as well as the intermediate states. This gives us a much better understanding of the folding pathways involved and can also help us identify potential drug targets for diseases caused by protein misfolding.

By understanding the mechanisms of protein folding and misfolding, we can develop strategies to prevent diseases associated with protein misfolding and design drugs that can disrupt the misfolding process. This could provide new hope for patients suffering from these diseases and help to reduce their impact on the lives of those affected.

Using this technique, we can also determine the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of the folding and unfolding processes. This can give us a better understanding of the energy landscape that is associated with the folding process. In addition, we can use this technique to identify potential inhibitors of protein misfolding. By studying the effects of these inhibitors on the folding pathways, we can develop new drugs that can block the misfolding process and thus prevent the progression of these diseases.