Is it possible to isolate and analyse intermediates of protein folding?

Question

I would like to know if there is an assay which could allow us to analyse a protein before it has assumed its 3D functional form.While studying structural biology, I only came to know the forces that stabilize the structure, but not the gap between the original random coil and the protein in its native form.

Answer 1

In computer programs, this is possible. However, in a laboratory setting, this is not possible. One of the barriers preventing this from happening is speed at proteins folding. This occurs in a short amount of time and no available assay would be able to differentiate structures in this time.