1. What is Oligonucleotide Molecular Weight?

The molecular weight of an oligonucleotide or peptide is the sum of the molecular weights of its constituent amino acids or nucleotides. It's a crucial parameter in biochemical research and pharmaceutical development.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( MW \) — Molecular weight of the peptide (g/mol)
• \( MW_{aa} \) — Molecular weight of individual amino acids (g/mol)

Explanation: The calculator sums the standard molecular weights of each amino acid in the sequence.

3. Importance of Molecular Weight Calculation

Details: Knowing the molecular weight is essential for preparing solutions with specific concentrations, interpreting mass spectrometry data, and designing experiments.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the peptide sequence using single-letter amino acid codes (e.g., "ACGT"). The sequence is case-insensitive.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What molecular weight values are used?
A: The calculator uses standard molecular weights for amino acids in their unmodified form.

Q2: Does this account for modifications?
A: No, this calculator doesn't account for post-translational modifications or non-standard amino acids.

Q3: What about terminal groups?
A: The calculation assumes neutral N- and C-termini. For exact values including terminal groups, specialized software may be needed.

Q4: Can I calculate for oligonucleotides?
A: This version calculates for peptides. For DNA/RNA oligonucleotides, a different calculator with nucleotide weights would be needed.

Q5: How accurate is this calculation?
A: It provides theoretical average molecular weight based on standard amino acid masses.