Intro
For this project we had to choose a disease and go deeper into the meaning behind what caused the disease. My group chose Parkinson's disease which is affiliated with the protein a-synuclein. Parkinson's disease causes problems with your nervous system that worsen over a period of time. Currently there is no cure and below you can see my groups poster with all of the information form our research and the meaning behind Parkinson's.
Concepts
Protein- 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. We use them when figuring out the different types of causes for the disease we are studying.
Protein Folding- The protein is folded when, the polypeptide chain is folded into alpha-helices and Beta-Sheets. Then, the domains are formed by combining alpha-helices and Beta-Sheet (3 structure). Last, all domains combine to form functioning protein (4 structure).
Polypeptides Chains- a single linear chain of many amino acids, held together by amide bonds. A protein consists of one or more polypeptides (more than about 50 amino acids long). An oligopeptide consists of only a few amino acids (between two and twenty). We use this when we describe the process of protein synthesis.
tRNA- Transfer RNA. Small RNA molecules that carry amino acids to the ribosome for polymerization into a polypeptide. During translation the amino acid is inserted into the growing polypeptide chain when the anticodon of the tRNA pairs with a codon on the mRNA being translated. We use the transfer RNA for the protein synthesis process. The ribosome slides down the mRNA, so that the tRNA in the A site moves over to the P site, a new codon fills the A site. (the A site brings new amino acids to the growing polypeptide at the P site.The tRNA with the appropriate amino acid pairs bases with the new codon at the A site. A peptide bond forms between the two adjacent amino acids held by tRNA molecules. This is what forms the first two links of a chain.The tRNA that was in the P site goes to the cytoplasm and the ribosome sliding process begins again.This continues until a stop codon enters the A site. When a stop protein enters, the tRNA in the P site releases.Translation to the protein has completed.
Amino Acid- A simple organic compound containing both a carboxyl (—COOH) and an amino (—NH2) group. When combined through peptide bonds into a polypeptide chain, it forms the primary stage of a protein. Amino acids are used for us as bonds for polypeptide chains that go through protein synethesis.
Ribosome- a minute particle consisting of RNA and associated proteins, found in large numbers in the cytoplasm of living cells. They bind messenger RNA and transfer RNA to synthesize polypeptides and proteins.
Transcription- Transcription is the process in which the mRNA is copied from the DNA template in the nucleus. This is one of the main parts of our protein synthesis project.
Anti Codon- a sequence of three nucleotides forming a unit of genetic code in a transfer RNA molecule, corresponding to a complementary codon in messenger RNA. Codons and anti codons are required for our disease (fCJD) to exist.
Codon- A codon is a set of three nucleotides on the mRNA, that code for a specific amino acid. Along with the Anti codons, without them our diseases would not exist.
mRNA- RNA is essentially a single strand of DNA, but has ribose sugars instead. One type involved with protein synthesis is mRNA (Messenger RNA) . It is copy of the DNA and is the template for polypeptide chain.
RNA Polymerase- an enzyme that is responsible for making RNA from a DNA template. In all cells RNA polymerase is needed for constructing RNA chains from a DNA template. We used it because our disease requires RNA polymerase during the transcription stage of protein synthesis.
Translation- mRNA is sent to the cytoplasm, where it bonds with ribosomes. There are 3 important bonding sites; one for mRNA and two for tRNA. One is called P site and the other, A site. The ribosome slides down the mRNA, so that the tRNA in the A site moves over to the P site, a new codon fills the A site. (the A site brings new amino acids to the growing polypeptide at the P site. The tRNA with the appropriate amino acid pairs bases with the new codon at the A site. A peptide bond forms between the two adjacent amino acids held by tRNA molecules. This is what forms the first two links of a chain. The tRNA that was in the P site goes to the cytoplasm and the ribosome sliding process begins again. This continues until a stop codon enters the A site. When a stop protein enters, the tRNA in the P site releases. To the protein has completed.
DNA-a self-replicating material present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes. It is the carrier of genetic information. DNA contains the information necessary for protein synthesis.
Nucleus- a dense organelle present in most eukaryotic cells, typically a single rounded structure bounded by a double membrane, containing the genetic material. We used it because it is an essential part of protein synthesis, and our disease is caused by a mutation during the process of protein synthesis.
Protein Synthesis- Protein Synthesis is the process where biological cells generate new proteins; it is balanced by the loss of cellular proteins via degradation or export. This is what the disease is formed by.
Protein Folding- The protein is folded when, the polypeptide chain is folded into alpha-helices and Beta-Sheets. Then, the domains are formed by combining alpha-helices and Beta-Sheet (3 structure). Last, all domains combine to form functioning protein (4 structure).
Polypeptides Chains- a single linear chain of many amino acids, held together by amide bonds. A protein consists of one or more polypeptides (more than about 50 amino acids long). An oligopeptide consists of only a few amino acids (between two and twenty). We use this when we describe the process of protein synthesis.
tRNA- Transfer RNA. Small RNA molecules that carry amino acids to the ribosome for polymerization into a polypeptide. During translation the amino acid is inserted into the growing polypeptide chain when the anticodon of the tRNA pairs with a codon on the mRNA being translated. We use the transfer RNA for the protein synthesis process. The ribosome slides down the mRNA, so that the tRNA in the A site moves over to the P site, a new codon fills the A site. (the A site brings new amino acids to the growing polypeptide at the P site.The tRNA with the appropriate amino acid pairs bases with the new codon at the A site. A peptide bond forms between the two adjacent amino acids held by tRNA molecules. This is what forms the first two links of a chain.The tRNA that was in the P site goes to the cytoplasm and the ribosome sliding process begins again.This continues until a stop codon enters the A site. When a stop protein enters, the tRNA in the P site releases.Translation to the protein has completed.
Amino Acid- A simple organic compound containing both a carboxyl (—COOH) and an amino (—NH2) group. When combined through peptide bonds into a polypeptide chain, it forms the primary stage of a protein. Amino acids are used for us as bonds for polypeptide chains that go through protein synethesis.
Ribosome- a minute particle consisting of RNA and associated proteins, found in large numbers in the cytoplasm of living cells. They bind messenger RNA and transfer RNA to synthesize polypeptides and proteins.
Transcription- Transcription is the process in which the mRNA is copied from the DNA template in the nucleus. This is one of the main parts of our protein synthesis project.
Anti Codon- a sequence of three nucleotides forming a unit of genetic code in a transfer RNA molecule, corresponding to a complementary codon in messenger RNA. Codons and anti codons are required for our disease (fCJD) to exist.
Codon- A codon is a set of three nucleotides on the mRNA, that code for a specific amino acid. Along with the Anti codons, without them our diseases would not exist.
mRNA- RNA is essentially a single strand of DNA, but has ribose sugars instead. One type involved with protein synthesis is mRNA (Messenger RNA) . It is copy of the DNA and is the template for polypeptide chain.
RNA Polymerase- an enzyme that is responsible for making RNA from a DNA template. In all cells RNA polymerase is needed for constructing RNA chains from a DNA template. We used it because our disease requires RNA polymerase during the transcription stage of protein synthesis.
Translation- mRNA is sent to the cytoplasm, where it bonds with ribosomes. There are 3 important bonding sites; one for mRNA and two for tRNA. One is called P site and the other, A site. The ribosome slides down the mRNA, so that the tRNA in the A site moves over to the P site, a new codon fills the A site. (the A site brings new amino acids to the growing polypeptide at the P site. The tRNA with the appropriate amino acid pairs bases with the new codon at the A site. A peptide bond forms between the two adjacent amino acids held by tRNA molecules. This is what forms the first two links of a chain. The tRNA that was in the P site goes to the cytoplasm and the ribosome sliding process begins again. This continues until a stop codon enters the A site. When a stop protein enters, the tRNA in the P site releases. To the protein has completed.
DNA-a self-replicating material present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes. It is the carrier of genetic information. DNA contains the information necessary for protein synthesis.
Nucleus- a dense organelle present in most eukaryotic cells, typically a single rounded structure bounded by a double membrane, containing the genetic material. We used it because it is an essential part of protein synthesis, and our disease is caused by a mutation during the process of protein synthesis.
Protein Synthesis- Protein Synthesis is the process where biological cells generate new proteins; it is balanced by the loss of cellular proteins via degradation or export. This is what the disease is formed by.
Reflection
This project was very different and fun from other projects we've done. As far as things that went well I feel that the execution and steps of the project went very well. The project instructions were clear which made the project a lot more clear. I feel the understanding and research behind the protein synthesis went poorly.There could have been better ways to learn about the proteins. Personally I gained some new skills and experience from this lab. One main thing was the knowledge behind the DNA strands and how they work. The ability to follow an explanation step by step is a big part of science and this project helped to reinforce that skill by having a detailed and easy to follow poster. Also, I gained more experience making the science poster. Using new tools is always a good learning experience, so using the gant chart to organize time management. Although I gained a lot of skills I also feel I could improve upon some things. One, being the precision of thought collection. The personal explanations could have been more precise when I was doing the lab. When explain Also, I could improve on the thoroughness of my observations. Throughout all of my projects I need to take and write down more observations. During this project was really fun and I learned so much!