ERIC Number: EJ1442095
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022-Aug
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0021-9584
EISSN: EISSN-1938-1328
Available Date: N/A
Using Magnets and Flexible 3D-Printed Structures to Illustrate Protein (Un)folding
Ionel Popa; Florin Saitis
Journal of Chemical Education, v99 n8 p3074-3082 2022
Proteins are "magical" workers inside our body, as they accomplish most of the cellular functions. Here we report on a novel approach to teach protein folding and unfolding, using magnets and flexible 3D-printed protein structures. To illustrate this physical process, we used colored circular magnets designed for whiteboards, connected through paper clips. Several protein structures were then 3D-printed, using both standard and flexible materials. Protein unfolding under force was then investigated by adding slotted weights to a setup consisting of three experiments: a simple spring, a spring in series with a sealed syringe (representing a dashpot), and a spring in series with a printed protein structure. All of the experiments shown here were done as part of the event, organized by the University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee. The approach presented here complements the use of other techniques to learn about protein folding and constitutes a novel way to explain how mechanical unfolding "in vivo" relates to a gain-of-function.
Descriptors: Magnets, Printing, Computer Peripherals, Simulation, Models, Science Experiments, Scientific Concepts, Computer Uses in Education, Visual Aids
Division of Chemical Education, Inc. and ACS Publications Division of the American Chemical Society. 1155 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 800-227-5558; Tel: 202-872-4600; e-mail: eic@jce.acs.org; Web site: http://pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Wisconsin
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A