Pet+Enzyme+Project

PROGRESS CHECK 1--IMAGES
Hand-in Robot Provide written summary or copy images into word document Save File name as 'lastname-images'

PROGRESS CHECK 2--REFERENCE SUBMISSION
-'Lastname-references' in Subject -Copy/Paste reference list into body of email

PROGRESS CHECK 3--POWERPOINT SLIDES
-Go To -->File-->Print -Choose --> Print handout--4 slides per page -Choose-->PDF tab in lower left hand corner -Choose-->PRINT PDF -Save file as 'lastname-slides' -attach slide summary to email -send to hand-in robot

__OBJECTIVES:__
• Students will be able to develop research techniques using a variety of sources. • Students will be able to identify functional roles of enzymes for living organisms. • Students will be able to describe the reaction mechanism an enzyme catalyzes. • Students will be able to describe the folding patterns of a complex protein. • Students will develop a PowerPoint presentation displaying the relevant information about a biological enzyme.

__PRESENTATION__
Enzymes are important proteins used to speed up, or catalyze, chemical reactions in living cells. In this project, you will adopt an enzyme, research as much information as possible using a variety of library and online resources, then present your information using PowerPoint. A list of some possible Pet Enzymes is found below. You are also welcome to choose your own Pet Enzyme. But -- when you choose your own, you need to check and be sure there is sufficient info about it (including a Protein Data Base structure) that could let you develop a sufficient PowerPoint. If it looks like it can work for you, I'll add it to the list with your name to show that you've adopted it.


 * 1) Alcohol Dehydrogenase
 * 2) Acetylcholinesterase
 * 3) alpha-Amylase
 * 4) ATP Synthase
 * 5) Caspases
 * 6) Carbonic Anhydrase
 * 7) Catalase
 * 8) Collagenase
 * 9) Cytochrome c
 * 10) DNA Ligase
 * 11) DNA Polymerase
 * 12) Exosomes
 * 13) Glucose Oxidase
 * 14) Glycogen Phosphorylase
 * 15) Hydrogenase
 * 16) Lactate Dehydrogenase
 * 17) Lactase
 * 18) Lipase
 * 19) Lysozyme
 * 20) Pepsin
 * 21) Protein Kinase C
 * 22) Poly (A) Polymerase
 * 23) RNA Polymerase
 * 24) Ribonuclease A
 * 25) Thrombin
 * 26) Topoisomerases
 * 27) Trypsin
 * 28) Transposase

__GUIDELINES - PET ENZYME PROJECT__
This project involves using a research type approach to your adopted enzyme, ending up in the development of a PowerPoint presentation which provides an overview of your enzyme's structure, function, and reaction. The idea is for each person to choose and adopt an enzyme. Each person adopts a different enzyme. Development of the PowerPoint proceeds by finding out the basic reaction by your enzyme and finding at least one good PDB X-ray structure for it, then developing a background for the importance of the enzyme.

__I think it may help you to focus if I give a few guidelines on what major questions would need to be presented and answered.__
(1) What reaction(s) is specifically catalyzed by your enzyme? (needed: chemical formulas and/or structural formulas for the reaction and its products)

(2) What is its Primary structure? (suggestion: "Quick PDB" button)

(3) What is its Secondary structure? (needed: verbal description plus good pictures, at least one view with "ribbon" type format and one with stick or ball and stick type format, maybe more than two if different rotations, magnifications of part of the structure, etc., are desirable to show features well)

(4) What is its Tertiary, and, if it has any, its Quaternary structure? (needed: verbal description and good pictures to illustrate these, if needed in addition to the ones used for (2) above.

(5) What is the enzymes biological function? What role does it serve? What types of organisms utilize this enzyme (is it exclusive to humans? Mammals? Animals?)? What does it do for the body/cell?

(6) Is your enzyme regulated (controlled by another organ/tissue)? If so, how? If it is regulated, why? (What does the regulation accomplish?) If it is not regulated, why not? (Why is regulation apparently not necessary?)

(7) Finally, because this is a topic you have investigated for the development of your PowerPoint, what are the references and sources for all of your information? Needed: complete literature citations, in an appropriate journal style, for all papers used as sources of information. Also, complete citations, including URL, of any web sites used as sources of information. If possible, at least one primary journal source -- especially for the reaction -- and one web site in addition to the PDB should be investigated and included. Guidelines on Documenting Information can be found at the Upper Merion Library website. A librarian can and should be consulted for clarification on referencing information.

It will require some digging and going beyond the textbook to get all the information you need for this project. The goal is first to find out most of the important things about your enzyme, and then to make a plan that succeeds in presenting them clearly and concisely.

RESOURCES http://www.rcsb.org/pdb/home/home.do EbscoHost Proquest Google ‘Scholar’

GRADING There are 100 total possible points for the final product. The following rubric will be used to assess the quality and creativity of the final project.


 * **__Due Date__** || **__Topic__** || **__Homework Points__** ||
 * 11/2/09 || Tertiary or Quaternary Protein Image(s) || 5 points ||
 * 11/4/09 || Images of Secondary Protein structures (helices and/or sheets) || 10 points ||
 * 11/6/09 || Primary Protein Sequence || 5 points ||
 * 11/9/09 || Four PowerPoint Slides Due || 10 points ||
 * 11/11/09 || Four References Due || 5 points ||
 * 11/16/09 || Entire Project Due || 100 points ||