The purpose of this project was to try to explain protein synthesis in the context of a genetic disease, in our case, the disease is called Achondroplasia (aka. dwarfism). We started by learning about how protein synthesis work through translation and transcription and how this process can cause a disease. In order to show our information, we created a video podcast. The podcast ended up being around 7 minutes and it covers how the FGFR3 gene causes achondroplasia. It goes deep into the steps of protein synthesis and fully explains how the disease happens.
Concepts
Codon: a sequence of three nucleotides that together form a unit of genetic code in a DNA or RNA molecule. Anticodon: a sequence of three nucleotides forming a unit of genetic code in a transfer RNA molecule, corresponding to a complementary codon in messenger RNA. Polymers: a substance that has a molecular structure consisting chiefly or entirely of a large number of similar units bonded together, e.g., many synthetic organic materials used as plastics and resins. Polypeptide chain: Proteins consist of one or more polypeptide chain. Each polypeptide chains consists of smaller sub-units or amino acids that are linked together. Amino acids serve as the building blocks of polypeptides, and polypeptides serve as the building blocks of proteins. Proteins: any of a class of nitrogenous organic compounds that consist of large molecules composed of one or more long chains of amino acids and are an essential part of all living organisms, especially as structural components of body tissues such as muscle, hair, collagen, etc., and as enzymes and antibodies. 4 Protein folding structures: primary, secondary, tertiary and quarternary. The secondary structure is the protein beginning to fold up. It can have two types of structure: the alpha helix, a coil shape held by hydrogen bonds in the same direction as the coil. Translation: After DNA is transcribed into a messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule during transcription, the mRNA must be translated to produce a protein. In translation, mRNA along with transfer RNA (tRNA) and ribosomes work together to produce proteins. Transcription:
Initiation. The DNA molecule unwinds and separates to form a small open complex.
Elongation. RNA polymerase moves along the template strand, synthesizing an mRNA molecule.
Termination. In prokaryotes there are two ways in which transcription is terminated.
Processing.
Alpha helix:a common motif in the secondary structure of proteins and is a right hand-spiral conformation in which every backbone N−H group donates a hydrogen bond to the backbone C=O group of the amino acid located three or four residues earlier along the protein sequence Beta sheet: a common motif of regular secondary structure in proteins. Beta sheets consist of beta strands connected laterally by at least two or three backbone hydrogen bonds, forming a generally twisted, pleated sheets. Amino acids: a simple organic compound containing both a carboxyl (—COOH) and an amino (—NH2) group.
Conclusion
I really enjoyed this project because I got to research a disease that fascinates me and challenges my perception of what is possible for the human body and what our limits are. My teammates were excellent and I really enjoyed making the video podcast with them. I could have improved the project by giving us more time to complete it because we were a little rushed. I also thought that we could have presented the info because I enjoyed the video very much. Overall it was a good project and I would do it again.