An improved program for the estimation of protein theoretical relative molecular mass and uncertainty

Presented here is the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Mass Calculator, a software tool which provides both a relative molecular mass value (Mr) and an associated uncertainty value of a given protein sequence. The calculation of a protein Mr based on its amino acid residue sequence is performed by many software applications. Unfortunately, many of the results do not agree with each other. Reasons for this lack of consensus may include use of rounded values, calculation errors or alternative calculation methods and it is often not possible to distinguish the source of the differences. Additionally, the result is provided without an estimate of precision. This would imply that the Mr is perfectly known, when in fact it is not. The basis for the calculation, either the Relative Atomic Mass or the Standard Atomic Weight, are themselves provided as estimates. Until the release of the NIST Mass Calculator, there were no applications available to provide both a Mr and an associated uncertain...