Abstract
At present, there are two contradictory views about the molten globule state as a kinetic intermediate of protein folding. One view demonstrates that it is formed immediately after refolding starts, so that both the formation of secondary structure and the compaction of a protein molecule are very rapid, occurring within several milliseconds. The opposing view demonstrates that the molten globule is formed more slowly with a half time up to several hundred milliseconds, and this process occurs only after formation of secondary structure. These two views are discussed, and the experimental as well as theoretical studies that support each of the two views are described.
