Home
Back
Protein Molecular Weight Formula:
| From: | To: |
Protein molecular weight calculation estimates the mass of a protein based on its amino acid sequence length. This approximation uses the average molecular weight of amino acid residues to provide a quick estimate of protein size.
The calculator uses the molecular weight formula:
Where:
Explanation: This formula provides an approximate molecular weight based on the average mass of amino acids in proteins. The value 0.11 kDa represents the typical molecular weight of an amino acid residue.
Details: Knowing a protein's molecular weight is essential for various applications in biochemistry and molecular biology, including gel electrophoresis, protein purification, concentration determination, and experimental design.
Tips: Enter the number of amino acid residues in your protein sequence. The value must be a positive integer (typically between 10-5000 for most proteins).
Q1: How accurate is this calculation?
A: This provides an approximation. Actual molecular weight can vary depending on the specific amino acid composition and post-translational modifications.
Q2: Why use 0.11 kDa as the average?
A: 0.11 kDa (110 daltons) represents the average molecular weight of amino acid residues in proteins, accounting for water loss during peptide bond formation.
Q3: When would I need to know a protein's molecular weight?
A: Molecular weight is important for gel electrophoresis, chromatography, protein quantification, and determining appropriate concentrations for experiments.
Q4: Are there more precise calculation methods?
A: Yes, more accurate calculations can be done by summing the exact weights of all amino acids in the sequence and accounting for modifications.
Q5: Does this account for post-translational modifications?
A: No, this simple calculation does not account for modifications like phosphorylation, glycosylation, or other alterations that affect molecular weight.