Measuring the size of a protein molecule is useful as an overall quality indicator, since misfolding, unfolding, oligomerization, aggregation or degradation can all affect size.
The literature specifically demonstrates the use of MDS in sizing protein-nanobody complexes, monitoring the formation of α-synuclein amyloid fibrils. and in observing protein assembly into oligomers
MDS can also be used to size membrane proteins, as the use of a protein specific labelling and detection system allows other species present in the solution (such as free lipid micelles or detergents) to be ignored.