02-15-2005, 08:57 PM
Walkiry,Feb 14 2005, 09:48 AM Wrote:So yes, you can make it as long as you want (arbitrarily long in fact, at least as a "theoretical" compound), but for "real" proteins, the longest I can think of is the cardiac variant of Titin, with a staggering length of 26,926 aminoacids (if you then take an average of, say, 8 letters when constructing the chemical composition the "hard way", it comes with over 215,000 characters, what a word!),
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Titin is indeed the longest protein, but if you want to get really out of control, think about the proteoglycan Hyaluronate. Mr = 2*10^8 - it's the size of a small bacterial cell. Best of luck to anyone wishing to name all the individual parts of that badboy.
The fact that Hyaluronate is also one of the most stable molecules in the body just goes to show how amazing evolution is.
--Mith
I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.
Jack London
I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.
Jack London