Titin ( /ˈtaɪtɪn/), also known as connectin, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TTN gene.[1][2] Titin is a giant protein that functions as a molecular spring which is responsible for the passive elasticity of muscle. It is composed of 244 individually folded protein domains connected by unstructured peptide sequences.[3] These domains unfold when the protein is stretched and refold when the tension is removed.[4]
Titin is the largest known protein.[5] Furthermore the gene for titin contains the largest number of exons (363) discovered in any single gene.[6]
Titin is important in the contraction of striated muscle tissues. It connects the Z line to the M line in the sarcomere. The protein contributes to force transmission at the Z line and resting tension in the I band region.[7] It limits the range of motion of the sarcomere in tension, thus contributing to the passive stiffness of muscle. Variations in the sequence of titin between different types of muscle (e.g., cardiac or skeletal) has been correlated with differences in the mechanical properties of these muscles.[1][8]
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The gene is found on chromosome 2 and has 363 exons.
A number of titin isoforms are produced in different striated muscle tissues as a result of alternative splicing.[9] All but one of these isoforms are in the range of ~27,000 to ~33,000 amino acid residues in length. The exception is the small cardiac novex-3 isoform which is only 5,604 amino acid residues in length. The following table lists the known titin isoforms:
Isoform | alias/description | length |
---|---|---|
Q8WZ42-1 | the "canonical" full length sequence | 34,350 |
Q8WZ42-3 | small cardiac N2-B | 26,926 |
Q8WZ42-4 | soleus | 33,445 |
Q8WZ42-6 | small cardiac novex-3, phosphorylated on Thr-5304 and Ser-5306. |
5,604 |
Q8WZ42-7 | cardiac novex-2 | 27,118 |
Q8WZ42-8 | cardiac novex-1 | 27,051 |
Titin is the largest known protein; its human variant consists of 34,350 amino acids, with the molecular weight of the mature "canonical" isoform of the protein being approximately 3,816,188.13 Da.[10] Its mouse homologue is even larger, comprising 35,213 amino acids with a MW of 3,906,487.6 Da.[11] It has a theoretical isoelectric point of 6.01.[10] The protein's empirical chemical formula is C169 723H270 464N45 688O52 243S912.[10] It has a theoretical instability index (II) of 42.41, classifying the protein as unstable.[10] The protein's in vivo half-life, the time it takes for half of the amount of protein in a cell to break down after its synthesis in the cell, is predicted to be approximately 30 hours (in mammalian reticulocytes).[9]
Titin consists primarily of a linear array of two types of modules (also referred to as protein domains; 244 copies in total): type I (fibronectin type III domain; 132 copies) and type II (immunoglobulin domain; 112 copies).[3] This linear array is further organized into two regions:
Titin is a large abundant protein of striated muscle. An N-terminal Z-disc region and a C-terminal M-line region bind to the Z-line and M-line of the sarcomere respectively so that a single titin molecule spans half the length of a sarcomere. Titin also contains binding sites for muscle-associated proteins so it serves as an adhesion template for the assembly of contractile machinery in muscle cells. It has also been identified as a structural protein for chromosomes. Considerable variability exists in the I-band, the M-line and the Z-disc regions of titin. Variability in the I-band region contributes to the differences in elasticity of different titin isoforms and, therefore, to the differences in elasticity of different muscle types. Of the many titin variants identified, five are described with complete transcript information available.[1][2]
Titin interacts with many sarcomeric proteins including:[6]
Mutations in this gene are associated with familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy 9[7][14] and tibial muscular dystrophy.[15] Autoantibodies to titin are produced in patients with the autoimmune disease scleroderma.[16]
The name titin is derived from the Greek Titan (a giant deity, anything of great size).[17]
As the largest known protein, titin also has the longest IUPAC name. The full chemical name, which starts methionyl... and ends ...isoleucine, contains 189,819 letters and is sometimes stated to be the longest word in the English language, or any language.[18][19] However, lexicographers regard generic names of chemical compounds as verbal formulae rather than English words.[20]
Titin has been shown to interact with:
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Look up the full chemical name of titin in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
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This article incorporates text from the United States National Library of Medicine, which is in the public domain.
I'm writing this here letter from aboard a DC8
Heading into Angel Town, I hope it's not too late
It rained in New York City
Mister Rock 'n' Roll couldn't stay
The crowd was mad and we were had
Chasing the sun back to L.A.
Have breakfest with me mamma
I hope they'll let us in
Got a leather jacket on
I know that it's a sin
Gunga Din
Sitting backwards on this airplane, is bound to make me sick
Spend your life on a DC8, never get to bed
Settle down (settle down)in the world
Now we're over Kansas, where the clouds are floating by
The whole wide world looks back at me
Just like a mushroom pie I wonder why
Have breakfest with me mamma
I hope they'll let us in
Got a leather jacket on
I know that it's a sin