Project Description
The assignment of this project was to research a protein caused disease. For this our group has chosen the disease known as kuru that will be described in more detail below. In addition to researching the disease, we also had to research the protein itself and protein synthesis, or what is also know as central dogma. We had about a week to do all of our research and creating our presentation. Our group chose to make two posters, one about kuru, and one about protein synthesis, and we also made two 3D models of the diseased protein and the non diseased protein.
Funky Vocabulary
Kuru- A disease caused by the protein prion (prpsc) that makes the brain degenerate, uncontrollable muscle movements, non voluntary laughing, and etc. This is also the disease that we have chosen to study.
Prion- The protein that causes kuru. It has two forms prpc and prpsc, prpsc is the version of prions that cause kuru.
Protein Synthesis- The process or steps to making protein. This relates to this project because in order to understand our protein we need to know how the protein was created in the first place.
Transcription- The first step of protein synthesis in which mRNA is created from the DNA. It’s relation to our project because transcription happens in order for the prion.
Translation- The second step of protein synthesis when the mRNA and tRNA(s) create a polypeptide chain out of amino acids in the ribosome. Prions also must be created through this step.
RNA- These are messengers with codes that allow us to continue functioning by using and reading their codes. The main RNA’s we use in this project are mRNA, tRNA, and polymerase. mRNA is a messenger RNA that has the code for proteins. tRNA is the transfer RNA that transfers amino acids. Polymerase is the RNA in the nucleus that splits the DNA and creates mRNA.
Codon- Three letters of the mRNA code that matches with a corresponding anticodon. These relates to the assignment because codons help make the diseased protein.
Anticodon- Three letters of the tRNA code that matches with a corresponding codon. Anticodons also plays a role in the creation of the protein which is also why they relate to the project.
Amino Acid- The basic building blocks of proteins. There are 20 of them and they connect together in to make polypeptide chains. This means they are also the building blocks for prions.
Polypeptide Chain- A chain of amino acids that happens to also be the primary structure in protein folding. Prions must start as a polypeptide chain before folding into a prion.
Protein- Nutrients for the body that also have functions and roles that affect the body. They’re functions are usually to benefit the body however can also cause disease like the prion protein.
Protein Folding- The process in which the polypeptide chain is folded into a usable and functioning protein. There are four structures/steps in this process. This process is the last step prions must go through before becoming a functioning protein.
Prion- The protein that causes kuru. It has two forms prpc and prpsc, prpsc is the version of prions that cause kuru.
Protein Synthesis- The process or steps to making protein. This relates to this project because in order to understand our protein we need to know how the protein was created in the first place.
Transcription- The first step of protein synthesis in which mRNA is created from the DNA. It’s relation to our project because transcription happens in order for the prion.
Translation- The second step of protein synthesis when the mRNA and tRNA(s) create a polypeptide chain out of amino acids in the ribosome. Prions also must be created through this step.
RNA- These are messengers with codes that allow us to continue functioning by using and reading their codes. The main RNA’s we use in this project are mRNA, tRNA, and polymerase. mRNA is a messenger RNA that has the code for proteins. tRNA is the transfer RNA that transfers amino acids. Polymerase is the RNA in the nucleus that splits the DNA and creates mRNA.
Codon- Three letters of the mRNA code that matches with a corresponding anticodon. These relates to the assignment because codons help make the diseased protein.
Anticodon- Three letters of the tRNA code that matches with a corresponding codon. Anticodons also plays a role in the creation of the protein which is also why they relate to the project.
Amino Acid- The basic building blocks of proteins. There are 20 of them and they connect together in to make polypeptide chains. This means they are also the building blocks for prions.
Polypeptide Chain- A chain of amino acids that happens to also be the primary structure in protein folding. Prions must start as a polypeptide chain before folding into a prion.
Protein- Nutrients for the body that also have functions and roles that affect the body. They’re functions are usually to benefit the body however can also cause disease like the prion protein.
Protein Folding- The process in which the polypeptide chain is folded into a usable and functioning protein. There are four structures/steps in this process. This process is the last step prions must go through before becoming a functioning protein.
Alpha Helix- This is a structure within proteins that is often depicted as swirls in models. These can be seen in prions.
Quaternary Structure- This is the final step of protein folding where there are now single bonds between nitrogen and hydrogen to make the protein actually usable. When this happens to a prion it allows it to actually function.
- Beta Sheet- Another structure in proteins that is often shown as lines with a bit of flatness on it. These can be seen in prions.
- Primary Structure- This is the polypeptide chain before the actual folding begins. In this project’s case it would be the polypeptide chain for prion proteins.
- Secondary Structure- When the polypeptide chain begins to fold into alpha helices and beta sheets. These alpha helices and beta sheets can be seen in our protein.
Quaternary Structure- This is the final step of protein folding where there are now single bonds between nitrogen and hydrogen to make the protein actually usable. When this happens to a prion it allows it to actually function.
Central Dogma (Protein Synthesis)
- Starts as DNA
- Transcription
- Polymerase splits the DNA double helix in half (nucleus)
- Polymerase creates an mRNA by matching the code to the spilt DNA (nucleus)
- mRNA leaves nucleus
- mRNA attaches to a ribosome
- Transcription
- mRNA, tRNA, and rRNA
- Translation
- mRNA in the ribosome has a code for a protein
- mRNA and a ribosome attach to each other, the ribosome has three sections P,A, and E
- mRNA is read in triplets called codons that correspond with an amino acid, signals the start of the process, and the end of the process
- The tRNA meets the mRNA in the ribosome and attaches in the A section
- The tRNA then moves to the P section where it attaches its amino acid to the growing chain or starts a new chain
- The tRNA leaves the ribosome from the E section to get another amino acid to repeat the process
- When the end codon comes up instead of a tRNA a release factor attaches to release the amino acid chain
- The polypeptide chain leaves the ribosome and goes into the cytoplasm
- Translation
- Protein Folding
- Travels to the rough ER
- Primary the amino acids just held together in a chain/peptide bond in cytoplasm
- Secondary- starting to fold in an alpha helix shape held by hydrogen bonds
- Tertiary-folding into the precise 3D structure. Looks like a ball or something. Fold on each other based on hydrophobic/hydrophilic amino acids. ER and Golgi
- Quaternary-single bonds between nitrogen and hydrogen bonds. Actually usable
Posters
Prion Protein
Reflection
Overall the outcome of the project felt very success in both the terms of the research and the product of presentation. The research might have been difficult however it was also very successful since we were able to find all the information need. The posters came out very neat and were able to efficiently show the information we wished to share. However the model could have been a bit sturdier because it is very fragile. Through this project I was able to improve on my focus, in terms of researching information online, and work efficiency. This project relied a lot on research and the prion protein required a lot of deep research due to it being a little bit unknown. All the research done helped improve the focus of researching because it an be difficult to stay on task when reading about proteins and diseases. Work efficiency was improved when making the posters and models because we did not have much time to finish them. However we worked efficiently with the time that was remaining and made them to be beautiful as well. Although two things I could improve on are time management and splitting up the roles in the group. Even though we were able to complete the project on time, the time management itself was not good because we had to rush stuff at the end. This was seen when we had to complete the posters at home due to not having enough time to finish it at school. Splitting up the roles was also a problem because most of the time only half the group was working because we were not able to divide the roles efficiently. This means next time we should divide the roles correctly to make research more efficient.