Identification

Molar mass is the key to identifying proteins, their oligomers or complexes, yet all too many protein researchers rely on simplistic, invalid analysis of molecular weight by SDS-PAGE or traditional size exclusion chromatography (SEC). These techniques invoke assumptions of conformation and ideal matrix interactions that may fool scientists with ambiguous or completely incorrect results, leading to fundamentally inaccurate interpretation of their data for scientific publications.

Multi-angle light scattering coupled with SEC (SEC-MALS) provides accurate molecular weight determination of proteins, oligomers and complexes, regardless of conformation or non-ideal column interactions. That's because SEC-MALS constitutes a rigorous, first-principles analysis of molar mass that does not rely on retention time or calibration with reference molecules. The only function of the SEC column is to separate molecules by size, while MALS determines molar mass of eluting proteins independently.