Protein Portraits

My protein is 1K6Y. Weeeee.

OK, so I finally remembered to put my protein ID on the site while I could actually do it. The protein ID for my alpha-amylase molecule is 1PPI.

I decided to change my protein concept, i got 5-6 weeks left to start/finish the project so I should be fine…. Was looking on the PDB today and “nanobodies”, the molecule of the month, caught my eye.  Their potential use in many fields of science make it an exciting and innovative protein to research or [...]

I found a PDB ID for the normal bovine prion.  The PBD ID is 1DWY.  I can’t find an ID for the misfolded prion though…

I think I’m going to go with Super Sculpey Firm for my main medium to work with, I have had issues in the past with the normal Super Sculpey going soft on me while sculpting. Especially when it initially started baking in the oven. Much of my process will be touch and go. I have [...]

Hi guys, I don’t really have mad cow haha, just a sore throat and not feeling well.  So i wont be coming into class today.  However, I have been painting my cow these past two days and here’s what he looks like so far!  Half angus, half jersey.  Although, my jersey kinda looks like a [...]

Hello again, So last time I sort of described what my protein would look like as a model, but I think the picture I found makes it easier to understand.  When we were discussing the dynamic shapes some proteins have, I was intrigued, and realized that this could easily be applied to the spider capture [...]

http://www.wilton.com/recipe/Rolled-Marshmallow-Fondant Good luck!

Okay, I lied. Here’s a picture of what I’ve been working on. -E

I sketched out a blueprint for my project and it looks something like this. I really like the carved styrofoam idea because letting the project suspend in water will give it the lifelike effect of moving inside the cell. I am also trying to add DNA strands and polypeptides to the ribosome model.. something like [...]

HIV integrase (the recent molecule of the month) is known from its close structural kin.  The following is the abstract of the recent “putting it all together” article that appeared in the scientific journal Nucleic Acids Research (2009 by Cherepanov and colleagues): “Establishment of the stable provirus is an essential step in retroviral replication, orchestrated [...]

I’ve had my plan for what I wanted to do for awhile so I figured it’s about time I post about it. I am doing integrase because I’m very passionate about the HIV epidemic and integrase is how viruses are able to “integrate” their DNA into ours. I am trying to mix the artistic with [...]

Hello Professor and Classmates, I have decided to model Ranasmurfin (PBD ID: 2VH3).  I will mold a Brainy Smurf using gum paste/fondant and the base design will be cake forms that will be covered with colored gum paste. The Ranasmurfin protein  will be depicted using colored ribbons  and wire will connect the helicies and beta [...]

Found some inspiration for my double helix which my p53 protein will bind to: http://biologyinculture.wordpress.com/2011/04/03/double-helix-in-public-spaces/ http://www.rogerallen.net/blog/archives/3523 My brother and I know how to weld and have access to a welder so I’m thinking i will use metal as my medium, possibly incorporating barbed wire, keys or locks and wire in the protein’s structure representing p53′s [...]

I took a look at all the proteins that had been isolated from the pea plant, and definitely liked 2WMC the most as well! It fit the idea that I originally had of using the pea plant to model a protein that operates on Mendelian genetics and it should be simple enough to make a [...]

Started making the cow out of clay.  Left a open section in the back (cant see it here) for the prions. Now to let it dry!

Hei, I’ve decided on immunoglobulin for my molecule, since I got quite familiar with it in an immunology class and have been amazed by its versatility.  I think I’d like to model IGG, as it is involved in active immune responses and can be transferred from a mother to an unborn infant; IGA and IGM [...]

Hello everyone, I have a pretty good idea of the materials I will use to build the structure (gum paste, food coloring, wire, and glitter are the most likely candidates) but I’m having a harder time deciding the protein I want to model. Right  now the choices are between: 1. Ranasmurfin “a blue protein from [...]

Hey Everyone, I was thinking about things that would be cool and artistic to make a protein structure out of, and fabric came to mind.  We had talked about spider silk in my chemistry class, and how it was so fine and yet 3x stronger than Kevlar, so I looked up spider silk proteins and [...]

Hey Dad! This is Brian on Erica’s computer. We decided that it is pertinent that you show this video in class. Love, Brian 73957-animated-gif-suddenly-ninja-squirrel.html

I think I’m going to do the protein alpha amylase, the enzyme responsible for breaking down starch for digestion. For my sculpture, I’m thinking of covering a basic pipe cleaner structure with cornstarch. Now I just need to find out how to make it more interesting color-wise (white would be too bland).

Hi everyone, It’s a bit early in the game, but I know what I am going to do!  I know prions have been done in this class before, but I think I can add a different artistic flare to it. So there are normal and misfolded prions and I am choosing to depict both in [...]

I feel that a lot of people would benefit and hopefully enjoy this game for both Mac and Windows platforms. It is free and is essentially solving puzzles of proteins and folding them correctly. If you get through all the tutorial levels you’ll have learned way more than you probably ever wanted about proteins. FoldIt: [...]

I am not sure what protein I am interested in, but I am thinking about using glass beads to build it. ~Nicole~

Howdy folks.  I think immunoglobulin is cool. ~Anna

First time blogging; I have absolutely NO idea what I’m doing (blogging wise).  For my portrait, I’m planning on doing p53.  I’m planning on a 2-D portrait with the p53 protein as a guardian angel latching onto a segment of DNA.  Only, I’m going make the amino acids of the protein look like stars with [...]

I’ve been poking around the PDB and didn’t find anything I was immediately attracted to, so I googled “interesting protein names” and found a really funny site about proteins found in Drosophila melanogaster, the fruit fly.  Apparently fruit flies are so well known structure-wise that scientists thought it would be clever to name their proteins [...]

Hello. I am very excited about the prospect of taking a more creative approach to the life sciences. I really hope to find a protein used in the same pea plants that were originally used in Mendelian Genetics. My first thoughts are that I would really enjoy modeling a protein around the idea of a [...]

Today let’s discuss protein form from the top down.  That is not the conventional direction taken in biochemistry courses where we usually begin with the elementary building blocks and work our way up.  (I’m fighting laryngitis this morning, so for this discussion, I’ll need all the  ”media crutches” I can find.) The birth of a [...]

Hey everybody, just wanted to check in and say hi. I have chosen the protein integrase (not just because it’s the protein of the month on the database, I promise.) I’m really interested in viruses, and HIV specifically so I plan to do my project revolving around that. I hope everyone had a great weekend. [...]

Thought I would check in!  I’m thinking of creating the tumor suppressor protein, p53.  This protein helps regulate the cell cycle and is important in preventing cancer.  It has often been referred to as the ‘guardian of the genome’  and the ‘master watchman’.  I’m not entirely sure how i will incorporate the proteins function and [...]

Hey guys, still looking at proteins at this point.  See you all tomorrow.

Hello Professor and fellow classmates, I am still figuring out which protein I want to study,  but until then, I present to you:  dancing  penguins. Happy Feet Cheers!

I couldn’t really think of a clever title. Oh, well. I found out how to post, at least! Still looking at the proteins. I’m not quite sure which one I want to do. In the meantime, here’s a stock photo of an orca so that I could practice uploading media.

Just letting you guys know that I am registered and have now posted. I think I have decided on a protein, here is the link. Here’s a picture of my breakfast to see how the photo uploader works.

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