A knotted protein refers to a type of protein structure that contains a knot-like configuration in its polypeptide chain. This can occur when a portion of the protein backbone loops around and passes through itself, creating a topological knot. Such configurations are rare in nature due to the constraints that the peptide chain must conform to, but they can provide unique stability and functional advantages. Knotted proteins have been observed in various organisms and are often characterized by their complex folding patterns.
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