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Peptide mass, amino acid composition, digest and fragments

Sequence or composition · a/b/c and x/y/z fragments · enzyme digest · average m/z

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Peptide mass, amino acid composition, digest and fragments

Sequences accept one-letter (PEPTIDE), three-letter (ALA-GLY-…) and modification syntax (P(Phos), [Cit+71.984]) plus termini (-NH2). The fragment table follows the a/b/c and x/y/z series with self-consistent complements and lists monoisotopic and average m/z on every row. Switching the input mode to amino acid composition (A3R2K1) gives the intact formula, masses and adduct average m/z when only the counts are known; a composition has no order, so no fragment or digest table is drawn.

Sequences accept one-letter (PEPTIDE), three-letter (ALA-GLY-…) and modification syntax (P(Phos), [Cit+71.984]) plus termini (-NH2). The fragment table follows the a/b/c and x/y/z series with self-consistent complements and lists monoisotopic and average m/z on every row. Switching the input mode to amino acid composition (A3R2K1) gives the intact formula, masses and adduct average m/z when only the counts are known; a composition has no order, so no fragment or digest table is drawn.

Every calculation runs locally in your browser. Nothing you type is ever uploaded.

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The peptide section accepts two kinds of input: a full sequence (one-letter PEPTIDEKRAQ, three-letter ALA-GLY-..., modified residues such as P(Phos) or [Cit+71.984]) and a composition-only form (A3R2K1). Both give the peptide formula, monoisotopic and average mass, and the m/z of every adduct - the average m/z being the one to compare against low-resolution or wide-envelope measurements.

A sequence input additionally expands into a fragment table: a/b/c and x/y/z series, secondary ions (b-H2O, y-NH3 and similar) and multiply charged ions, each row listing monoisotopic and average m/z, with complementary fragments summing to the parent. An enzyme digest list (trypsin, Lys-C, Glu-C, Asp-N and more) is produced with configurable missed cleavages and length limits. A composition has no order, so it yields the intact peptide only, with no fragment or digest tables.

How to use it

  1. Choose the input mode: sequence or amino acid composition.
  2. For a sequence, type it directly (PEPTIDEKRAQ); modifications go in brackets after the residue, such as P(Phos) or M(Ox).
  3. For a composition, fill the residue counts and pick the N-term and C-term groups.
  4. Tick the fragment series and charges you need - the tables copy as a block - and read the digest list for the chosen enzyme.

Frequently asked questions

How do three-letter sequences and modifications work?
Three-letter residues are hyphenated, as in ALA-GLY-SER. Modifications follow the residue in brackets, for example P(Phos) for phospho, or you can give a mass shift directly such as [Cit+71.984], with -18 for dehydration.
Why is there no fragment table for a composition?
A composition carries no order information: one composition maps to many possible sequences, so the cleavage sites are undefined. Composition input therefore reports only the intact mass and adduct m/z; use sequence input when you need fragments.
When is the average m/z the better reference?
On low-resolution instruments, or for peptides with a wide isotope envelope (many Br/Cl atoms or a large carbon count), the observed peak position is closer to the m/z computed from the average mass, so comparing against the average is more reliable.
Is anything I type uploaded?
No. There is no back end: the algorithms, the NIST isotope data and every dictionary ship with the page, and all calculations run in your browser.
How accurate is the data?
Isotope masses and abundances come from a NIST snapshot (94 elements, 298 isotopes). Isotope distributions are exact polynomial convolutions and agree with mainstream simulators to several decimal places.
Is it free? Do I need an account?
It is completely free, with no usage limit and no sign-up or login.
Can I send a calculation to someone else?
Yes. Click Copy link and the input state is encoded into the URL hash, so opening that link restores exactly what you had.

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