Protein Synthesis
Evidence of Work
Our recent unit was about protein synthesis. We applied this to the real world by researching a disease and finding out how it is affected by protein synthesis. Our final product was a poster that goes into detail on our disease, the proteins affected, and protein synthesis. The disease my group and I chose was ALS, or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
ALS is a fatal progressive neuro-degenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. One with this disease loses the ability to move, speak, eat, and eventually, breathe. This is an extremely scary disease, and the lifespan of the contractor of the disease is usually no more than 6-7 years after the first symptoms, sometimes as little as one.
The protein that we studied is called SOD1, a protein that works among the brain and spinal chord. When this protein has a certain mutation, it cannot function correctly among the nerves, which leads to ALS disease.
ALS is a fatal progressive neuro-degenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. One with this disease loses the ability to move, speak, eat, and eventually, breathe. This is an extremely scary disease, and the lifespan of the contractor of the disease is usually no more than 6-7 years after the first symptoms, sometimes as little as one.
The protein that we studied is called SOD1, a protein that works among the brain and spinal chord. When this protein has a certain mutation, it cannot function correctly among the nerves, which leads to ALS disease.
Our Final Posters:
The Group Document→ |
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As seen to the left, the final product that my group and I made were two posters. The first poster shows everything about the disease that we chose to research, ALS.
The second poster is all about protein synthesis and how it affects the disease. The protein that causes ALS is called SOD1, and our poster describes not only all of the steps in protein synthesis, but also where in that process the mutation occurs. To the left is our group document. My entire group contributed to this doc, and it includes a Gantt chart for time management, a collaborative research area for ALS, SOD1, and protein synthesis, and daily reflections. |
Content
Vocabulary:
- Polymerase: An enzyme that brings about the formation of a particular polymer, especially DNA or RNA.
-Prion: Prions are misfolded proteins which characterize several fatal neurodegenerative diseases in animals and humans. The protein SOD1 is a prion in people with ALS.
-Alpha Helix: A coil shape held by hydrogen bonds in the same direction as the coil.
- Beta sheet: An S shape pattern, also with hydrogen bonds holding the structure together. The hydrogen bonds are between NH and CO groups on the peptides.
-Degenerative:(of a disease or symptom) characterized by progressive, often irreversible deterioration, and loss of function in the organs or tissues. ALS is a neuro-degenerative disease, which is why this definition is important.
- Transcription: In the nucleus, the mRNA is made off of a copy of the DNA and leaves the nucleus, then attaches to a ribosome. It is during transcription that many protein mutations occur, which lead to diseases.
- Translation: Once the mRNA is attached to a ribosome, tRNA arrives at the ribosome, each with an amino acid and a matching anti-codon base to the mRNA. The mRNA is matched in sets of bases called codons, in sets of three. As the mRNA moves along, the amino acids connect to each other and create a polypeptide chain. When the ribosome reaches a stopping point, the polypeptide chain and mRNA are released. The polypeptide chain then folds into itself in a step called protein folding, and its specified functioning protein is formed.
-Codons: The sequence of three letters in the mRNA, which is used to code the polypeptide chain.
-RNA: Ribonucleic acid starts off the process of protein synthesis. RNA is half of the double-helix that makes up the DNA. The main types that are used in what we are learning about are tRNA(transfer) and mRNA(messenger).
- Polymerase: An enzyme that brings about the formation of a particular polymer, especially DNA or RNA.
-Prion: Prions are misfolded proteins which characterize several fatal neurodegenerative diseases in animals and humans. The protein SOD1 is a prion in people with ALS.
-Alpha Helix: A coil shape held by hydrogen bonds in the same direction as the coil.
- Beta sheet: An S shape pattern, also with hydrogen bonds holding the structure together. The hydrogen bonds are between NH and CO groups on the peptides.
-Degenerative:(of a disease or symptom) characterized by progressive, often irreversible deterioration, and loss of function in the organs or tissues. ALS is a neuro-degenerative disease, which is why this definition is important.
- Transcription: In the nucleus, the mRNA is made off of a copy of the DNA and leaves the nucleus, then attaches to a ribosome. It is during transcription that many protein mutations occur, which lead to diseases.
- Translation: Once the mRNA is attached to a ribosome, tRNA arrives at the ribosome, each with an amino acid and a matching anti-codon base to the mRNA. The mRNA is matched in sets of bases called codons, in sets of three. As the mRNA moves along, the amino acids connect to each other and create a polypeptide chain. When the ribosome reaches a stopping point, the polypeptide chain and mRNA are released. The polypeptide chain then folds into itself in a step called protein folding, and its specified functioning protein is formed.
-Codons: The sequence of three letters in the mRNA, which is used to code the polypeptide chain.
-RNA: Ribonucleic acid starts off the process of protein synthesis. RNA is half of the double-helix that makes up the DNA. The main types that are used in what we are learning about are tRNA(transfer) and mRNA(messenger).
Protein Synthesis Steps:
1. Transcription- in nucleus, mRNA is made and leaves nucleus, then attaches to a ribosome. 2. Translation- on ribosome, transfer RNA comes to ribosome, bringing an amino acid, amino acids become protein, proteins fold into a specific shape, and make up a functioning protien. |
3. Protein Folding- A protein folds to perform its biological function. There are four stages of protein folding, primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary. It starts in the cytoplasm.
The primary structure is the sequence of amino acids held together by peptide bonds. It then moves into the rough ER.
The secondary structure is the protein beginning to fold up. It can have two types of structure: the alpha helix, and the beta sheet.
The tertiary structure is the protein folded into its precise 3D structure, relating to the function. Hydrophilic or hydrophobic further dictates the folding. This takes place in the ER and Golgi body.
The Quaternary structure is when single peptides bond to other peptides, for example in hemoglobin. This happens in the Golgi body.
The primary structure is the sequence of amino acids held together by peptide bonds. It then moves into the rough ER.
The secondary structure is the protein beginning to fold up. It can have two types of structure: the alpha helix, and the beta sheet.
The tertiary structure is the protein folded into its precise 3D structure, relating to the function. Hydrophilic or hydrophobic further dictates the folding. This takes place in the ER and Golgi body.
The Quaternary structure is when single peptides bond to other peptides, for example in hemoglobin. This happens in the Golgi body.
Reflection
This project went well for my group and me, and I feel that a learned a lot about protein synthesis and the disease ALS, or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. I learned all about the disease, what causes it, how it is diagnosed, what the symptoms are, who it affects and what the treatments are. Protein wise, I learned how protein synthesis works, how our disease plays into that process, what protein causes ALS (SOD1), what the gene sequence is for SOD1, and countless more. All of these things were recorded in the shared google doc that is linked to this page.
Also included in the document is a gantt chart. In previous projects, I have found that time management has been an issue. By using a gantt chart, that issue is eliminated. A gantt chart is a way to organize time and the amount of tasks that need to be done. This helped us because sometimes when my group would get off task, it was easier to get back on task when the tasks were clearly laid out before us, including due dates and amounts.
One thing that I think my group and I could improve on would be collaboration. A lot of the time, the work was not shared equally among all of the group members. A way to improve this would be to assign tasks to specific people, that way the work wouldn't all be loaded on one person, and everyone would have a responsibility in the project. Another skill that I would like to improve upon is decision-making. I felt like we could not decide on a final project, and that was cutting into our work time.
Other than those two things, I really enjoyed this project and I learned a lot of important content that I could see being helpful to me in the future.
Also included in the document is a gantt chart. In previous projects, I have found that time management has been an issue. By using a gantt chart, that issue is eliminated. A gantt chart is a way to organize time and the amount of tasks that need to be done. This helped us because sometimes when my group would get off task, it was easier to get back on task when the tasks were clearly laid out before us, including due dates and amounts.
One thing that I think my group and I could improve on would be collaboration. A lot of the time, the work was not shared equally among all of the group members. A way to improve this would be to assign tasks to specific people, that way the work wouldn't all be loaded on one person, and everyone would have a responsibility in the project. Another skill that I would like to improve upon is decision-making. I felt like we could not decide on a final project, and that was cutting into our work time.
Other than those two things, I really enjoyed this project and I learned a lot of important content that I could see being helpful to me in the future.