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Class Activities Fall, 2009 Using the Atrium to Demonstrate Protein Folding Dr. Ken Saville discusses new approaches to illustrating the concept of protein folding as a part of the overall process of protein synthesis in Biology 210. "I had assigned each student an amino acid the previous
class period. I had them write the structure and some pertinent
information on a note card. On 'atrium day' I had amino acid structures
drawn on larger cards (file folders, with a string attached so they
could hang them around their neck) and had them find theirs based on the
structure. I then had them associate into groups of similar amino acids
(Fig. 1), then they formed a polypeptide chain (Fig. 2), holding pencils
to be the bonds between them. Then I had them, while still being bonded
in a long chain, find other amino acids in the chain with which they
could bond (following simple chemical bonding rules), this results in a
folded structure with identifiable subregions called domains (Fig. 3) I
also had Cliff Harris stop by to give the organic chemistry perspective
for those who are in organic chemistry this semester.
Figure 3. Forming the protein domain. |
Figure 1. Mingling. The formation of groups of similar amino acids.
Figure 2. Forming the polypeptide.
Figure 4. The invasion of the chemist. |
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