Year: 2004
Type: article
Abstract: The mass density of proteins is a relevant basic biophysical quantity. It is also a useful input parameter, for example, for three-dimensional structure determination by protein crystallography and studies of protein oligomers in solution by analytic ultracentrifugation. We have performed a critical analysis of published, theoretical, and experimental investigations about this issue and concluded that the average density of proteins is not a constant as often assumed. For proteins with a molecular weight below 20 kDa, the average density exhibits a positive deviation that increases for decreasing molecular weight. A simple molecular-weight-depending function is proposed that provides a more accurate estimate of the average protein density.
Source: Protein Science
DOI: 10.1110/ps.04688204
Institutions: Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Física de São Carlos
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2114225171