The 13C off-resonance rotating frame spin-lattice relaxation technique is applicable to the study of protein rotational diffusion behavior in both model in vitro and in vivo systems. The original formalism of James and co-workers [(1978) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 100, 3590-3594] was constrained by the assumption of random isotropic reorientational motion of a monodisperse protein population. Here we extend the formalism to include polydispersity. Application is made to the alkaline pH induced association of lysozyme, lysozyme-bovine serum albumin mixtures, and to the phase separation of lysozyme salt-water mixtures induced by low temperature.