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The Ins and Outs of Protein
Folding
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Submitted By
Lisa M. Clark
Paul W. Bryant High School
Cottondale, Alabama
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Subject
Objective
Description/What to do in the classroom
Things to consider/science behind it
Number of TryScience.org features used
Titles of TryScience.org features
Materials Used
Results of student feedback and teacher assessment of activity
Attachments
Subject
Protein folding
Objective
Students will use inquiry skills to investigate protein structure and function.
Students will transfer knowledge of protein structure and function to develop an interactive flashcard-style activity they will present to classmates.
Science Standards: (List as applicable)
National Science Education Standards:
Content Standard C: Life Science: Regulation and behavior (Grades 5-8); The cell (Grades 9-12)
Content Standard E: Understandings about
science and technology (Grades 5-8 & 9-12)
Content Standard F: Science and Technology in Society (Grades 5-8 & 9-12)
Content Standard G: Nature of Science (Grades 5-8 & 9-12)
Science as Inquiry Content Standard A: Understandings of scientific inquiry (Grades 5-8 & 9-12)
Physical Science Content Standard B: Chemical reactions (Grades 9-12)
National Standards for Arts Education:
Content Standard #2: Using knowledge of structures and functions
Content Standard #6: Making connections between visual arts and other disciplines
Description/What to do in the classroom
Have students gather some basic research on proteins from the protein.html-bog hopper field trip. Students will inquire about the denaturing or unfolding of proteins by carrying out an experiment (Say Cheese or Make It Stick) from the TryScience.org experiments. Students will continue their inquiry by taking a TryScience.org fieldtrip (Create a 3D protein) to investigate the folding of proteins. Students will transfer all of their newly constructed knowledge into an interactive presentation/activity for their classmates. Lower level students will decorate printed protein structure images from the field trip to the Exploratorium's Protein Data Bank with markers and/or crayons and other decorative materials such as buttons, beads, etc. to make them resemble the most obvious animal or other object. Students will write the name of the protein on the back of the image. Each student will decorate and present a different protein. Students will remember the names of proteins by remembering which animal each one resembles. Each higher level student will capture a different protein image from the Protein Data Bank as well as research its function. Students will then paste the protein image to a presentation software slide, create a second slide with the protein's name, and a third slide with the protein's basic function. All of the presentations will be saved together for one consolidated file that is interactive by clicking to see the protein's shape, name, and function. Elective extensions: Lower level or elementary students can also visit the milk bubbles.html fieldtrip to further investigate temperature's effect on protein denaturation. Advanced or AP students can continue their protein inquiry by visiting the Nobel Prize e-Museum's Virtual Biochemistry Laboratory--Protein Folding Lab to simulate unfolding and folding of proteins in the laboratory.
Things to consider/science behind it
This challenge should be modified depending on the grade and academic levels. Students will gain a firm understanding of what a protein is made of (a chain of amino acids) and how it folds. Students will have multiple experiences with the causes of protein denaturation (pH, temperature).
Advanced or AP students will get a rich understanding of how proteins fold according to their chemical structure (hydrophobic ends fold in while hydrophilic ends fold out).
Curriculum topics
Life Science: Biology
Physical Science: Chemistry
Art: Visual Arts
Integration of TryScience.org features
Students will go on a TryScience.org field trip to obtain some basic research or background concerning proteins. Students will carry out a TryScience.org experiment to inquire about the denaturing (unfolding) of proteins. Students will also go on a TryScience.org fieldtrip for a hands-on experience with protein folding. The two sets of experiences will be different based on grade and/or academic levels. Students will go on another TryScience.org fieldtrip to gather information and materials for developing an interactive flashcard quiz game. Games will also be different based on grade/academic levels.
Number of TryScience.org features used
6-10
Titles of TryScience.org features
*Experiments:
Say Cheese (Lower level);
Make It Stick (Higher level)
*Field Trips:
Protein.html--Bog Hopper;
Create a 3D Protein-Making a Beta Sheet (Lower level);
Create a 3D Protein-Making the Protein cytochrome b562 with Alpha Helices (Higher level);
Traits of Life at the Exploratorium--Protein Data Bank;
The Virtual Biochemistry Laboratory: Nobel e-Museum
MilkBubbles.html (This Week's Experiment: #249)
Materials Used
TryScience.org website
Materials for experiments and field trips from TryScience.org website
Printed protein structures
Markers, crayons, miscellaneous buttons, beads, and other decorative materials
PowerPoint or other presentation software
Results of student feedback and teacher assessment of activity
My high school students studied proteins and completed the upper level version of this activity and collaborated with middle school students to teach them about proteins. The middle school students then carried out the lower level version of the challenge.
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