In this project, our task was to describe how a protein can cause a disease by understanding protein synthesis. We compared normal proteins to diseases riden proteins. We shared a lot of background history surrounding the disease. Our final product were two informative posters as well as two 3D models showing the difference between normal proteins and proteins that cause the disease. The disease my group and I selected was Kuru Disease which is also known as Laughing disease.
What is Kuru- The brief history of this disease was that it was an incurable disease spawned in a cannibalistic tribe that infected others with misfolded prions then giving them the disease. This disease takes a while to get settled in but once you get it you can't get rid of it.
How we choose to present the information- We needed to show our understanding of the disease, the protein and the synthesis of proteins. To make room for all the research we needed to display it we chose to create 2 in depth very interesting posters. This would be entertaining and informative, and a little outside of the box.
What is Kuru- The brief history of this disease was that it was an incurable disease spawned in a cannibalistic tribe that infected others with misfolded prions then giving them the disease. This disease takes a while to get settled in but once you get it you can't get rid of it.
How we choose to present the information- We needed to show our understanding of the disease, the protein and the synthesis of proteins. To make room for all the research we needed to display it we chose to create 2 in depth very interesting posters. This would be entertaining and informative, and a little outside of the box.
here are some neat CONCEPTS to know
Protein Synthesis: The process through which new proteins are created. Split into three parts which are, transcription, translation, and folding (see our Central Dogma of protien synthesis)(it has it all). This is relative to our project because Kuru is caused by prions that misfolded during the folding stage of protein synthesis.
Codon/Anti-codon: A codon is a set of three bases that make up mRNA. An Anti-codon is a set of threes bases attached to tRNA. When they come together in a ribosome the codons and anti codons match and produce an amino acid.
Polymerase: Polymerase is an enzyme that splits DNA to create mRNA in protein synthesis.
Polypeptide Chain: A polypeptide chain is a chain of amino acids that folds into a protein during the folding stage of protein synthesis, this is what misfolds to create a diseased prion protein rather than a healthy prion.
Proteins: A protein is a macro-molecule that controls work within cells. A prion is a type of protein most often found in the brain
4 Protein Folding Structures: There are four steps to protein folding, the Primary, where amino acids form a polypeptide chain in the cytoplasm, the Secondary, where it folds into alpha helix's and beta sheets based on hydrogen bonds, the Tertiary, where it folds into a precise structure based of of hydrophobic and hydrophillic amino acids in the ER/Golgi body, and the Quaternary, where it forms single hydrogen and nitrogen bonds and becomes usable. This is where the prion that causes Kuru happens to misfold.
Translation: Translation is the part of protein synthesis where mRNA ad tRNA come together in a ribosome and their codons/anti-codons match up releasing amino acids.
Transcription: Transcription is the part of protein synthesis where polymerase splits DNA and creates mRNA.
Alpha Helix: An alpha helix is a spiral part of protein structure. Misfolded Kuru prions have fewer alpha helix's than healthy prions.
Beta Sheet: A beta sheet is a strand part of protein structure. Misfolded Kuru prions have more beta sheets than healthy prions.
Prion: A prion is a type of protein. Kuru is caused by infectious misfolded prions.
Amino Acids: An amino acid is the monomer that make up proteins.
Degenerative Disease: A degenerative disease is a disease caused by degenerative changes to cells, tissues, or organs, that progressively gets worse over time.
RNA (Types): The RNA types that are relevant to this project are tRNA, mRNA, and rRNA. mRNA is messenger RNA that contain codon sequences for protein synthesis. tRNA is transport RNA that brings anti-codons and amino acids to ribosomes for translation. rRNA is Ribosomal RNA that makes up ribosomes.
Protein Synthesis: The process through which new proteins are created. Split into three parts which are, transcription, translation, and folding (see our Central Dogma of protien synthesis)(it has it all). This is relative to our project because Kuru is caused by prions that misfolded during the folding stage of protein synthesis.
Codon/Anti-codon: A codon is a set of three bases that make up mRNA. An Anti-codon is a set of threes bases attached to tRNA. When they come together in a ribosome the codons and anti codons match and produce an amino acid.
Polymerase: Polymerase is an enzyme that splits DNA to create mRNA in protein synthesis.
Polypeptide Chain: A polypeptide chain is a chain of amino acids that folds into a protein during the folding stage of protein synthesis, this is what misfolds to create a diseased prion protein rather than a healthy prion.
Proteins: A protein is a macro-molecule that controls work within cells. A prion is a type of protein most often found in the brain
4 Protein Folding Structures: There are four steps to protein folding, the Primary, where amino acids form a polypeptide chain in the cytoplasm, the Secondary, where it folds into alpha helix's and beta sheets based on hydrogen bonds, the Tertiary, where it folds into a precise structure based of of hydrophobic and hydrophillic amino acids in the ER/Golgi body, and the Quaternary, where it forms single hydrogen and nitrogen bonds and becomes usable. This is where the prion that causes Kuru happens to misfold.
Translation: Translation is the part of protein synthesis where mRNA ad tRNA come together in a ribosome and their codons/anti-codons match up releasing amino acids.
Transcription: Transcription is the part of protein synthesis where polymerase splits DNA and creates mRNA.
Alpha Helix: An alpha helix is a spiral part of protein structure. Misfolded Kuru prions have fewer alpha helix's than healthy prions.
Beta Sheet: A beta sheet is a strand part of protein structure. Misfolded Kuru prions have more beta sheets than healthy prions.
Prion: A prion is a type of protein. Kuru is caused by infectious misfolded prions.
Amino Acids: An amino acid is the monomer that make up proteins.
Degenerative Disease: A degenerative disease is a disease caused by degenerative changes to cells, tissues, or organs, that progressively gets worse over time.
RNA (Types): The RNA types that are relevant to this project are tRNA, mRNA, and rRNA. mRNA is messenger RNA that contain codon sequences for protein synthesis. tRNA is transport RNA that brings anti-codons and amino acids to ribosomes for translation. rRNA is Ribosomal RNA that makes up ribosomes.
REFLECTION ---- For this project I felt I quite well, I traced the posters while Vinny made the Kuru poster and while Sarah made the models and the synthesis poster. Two things I felt I did really well in this project was research understanding and teamwork. I collected alot of the information regarding the protien we choose and protien folding. Two things I felt I did not do so well were that I didn't plan out too well, and i felt like my teamm wasnt intrested in letting me do some work. I made a gannt chart but didnt follow it, and my team didnt believe i could assist in the project. I fell like if they had split the work load up we couldve been faster on pace but Diego and i didnt get much of what was going on. I also was absent the research day so I needed to get an understanding of what we were doing before I could help do it. Overall this project went well, we finished it quickly and it was an awesome final product.
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CENTRAL DOGMA (PROTEIN SYNTHESIS)
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