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The Chemical Educator
ISSN: 1430-4171 (electronic version)
Abstract Volume 25
(2020) pp 1-4
Hands-on Visualization Approach to Understanding Protein Folding in Biochemistry
Cassidy M. Dobson
Department of Chemistry, Truman State University, Kirksville, Missouri, 63501, cdobson@truman.edu
Received September 20, 2019. Accepted November 11, 2019.
Published: 27 January 2020
Abstract. A
classroom activity focused on protein folding is introduced to biochemistry
students. This activity is inexpensive, but provides a unique approach by
differentiating amino acid R-groups both by type and size by the incorporation
of different colored pipe cleaners. By first understanding the types of amino
acids and the sizes of their R-groups students are able to simulate unique
polypeptide chains. From this, students fold their construction into a
3-dimensional model based on intermolecular interactions and sterics. This
classroom activity first starts with students constructing a linear chain of
amino acids of various sizes and polarity using different colored pipe-cleaners
for flexibility. The students can then generate structures and fit them to a
final 3-D protein model. By teaching students about protein folding using a
color and size scheme this hands-on visualization approach improves current
activities of constructing protein models for classroom activities.
Key Words: In the Classroom; biochemistry; protein folding; amino acids; hands-on learning/manipulatives; problem solving/decision making; physical models
(*) Corresponding author. (E-mail: cdobson@truman.edu)
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