Category Archives: Student posts

Thank you BB399H students for sharing your creations.  You have proven beyond any doubt that there is more than one way to look at a protein molecule!  Thanks also go to all those who attended the show, including Kevin and … Continue reading →

Hey Guys! The tables are now set up for our show in SLUG 2. There are three tables on the right hand side of the room as soon as you walk in. Feel free to put up your protein whenever. … Continue reading →

Professional Judging Guidelines: 1. Scientific Insight 2. Artistic Merit “Between Ourselves” Judging Categories: 1. Most creative materials 2. Most effort and/or most complex 3. Most desperate-looking molecule

… see you at the UHC Thesis Fair! A celebration of undergraduate research at OSU. When: Wednesday, May 20, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Where: Gallery and Rotunda of the Valley Library Protein Portraits will return to its regular schedule next week!

I’m making a last minute change to my protein, by moving from the blue variant to the green fluorescent protein.  It’s not much of a change because I can’t tell the two apart with the naked eye.  Anyway, the protein … Continue reading →

So basically, ferritin is composed of mostly alpha helices (4 lonand 1 short) with beta strands connecting them. Like we talked about the other day, some of the beta strands wrap around (because the helices go in the same direction … Continue reading →

The p53 protein (cellular tumor antigen) is an alpha-beta protein. It is composed of 4 alpha helices and 4 beta pleated sheets. I plan on using the following materials for the construction of my protein: faux flowers (plastic flowers), pipe … Continue reading →

Zif268, also known as Egr1(Early Growth Response Protein 1) is a transcription factor. It can be found in the nucleus of the cell where it regulates transcription of genes required for cell differentiation and mitogenesis. Zif268 is composed of 543 … Continue reading →

Interferon – Gamma Properties: IFN – gamma is a 4 subunit glycoprotein that functions in the immune system as a cytokine, or signaling molecule. It weighs about 64 kDa and is in the “all alpha” domain. One of its functions … Continue reading →

So the “class” for my protein is mainly alpha (this is all according to the PDB). The architecture type is considered up-down bundles.  Additionally, I believe at one time I mentioned that I had gone to a craft store and … Continue reading →

Here are the three places we’ve talked about in class.  Please post a comment if you know of any others… Creative Crafts & Frame Shop 934 NW Kings Boulevard Corvallis, Oregon 97330 541.753.7316   Michael’s 1550 NW 9th St, Ste … Continue reading →

I changed my protein. This is an important compound in vipoxin, which is the lethal neurotoxin found in the venomous viper species. This part of the venom is the toxic phospholipase inhibitor.

This is the interferon gamma protein. It plays a large role in the immune system because infected/stressed cells send it out as a cytokine “help me” signal. Last summer I measured the levels of this protein in mice with multiple … Continue reading →

This receptor is one of the most important in muscle movement. It is found on all postganglionic neurons and on muscles at neuromuscular junctions. It is also the main receptor found in the parasympathetic nervous system. It is a very … Continue reading →

These are two views of the different ends of the mechanosensitive channel that I posted last week Continue reading →

Today let’s talk about the folding and unfolding of proteins.  We’ll get some insight into the flexibility of proteins, and along the way let’s rate (thumbs up/ thumbs down) some recent attempts at depicting protein flexibility. GCSF folding IL-1 receptor … Continue reading →

This protein is a transcription factor commonly found in eukaryotic cells. The thing that caught my attention with this structure was the three subunits that have configurations known as “zinc fingers”. I plan to use this for my final product … Continue reading →

This is the molecule that I have chosen to represent for my final project. This is a ferritin molecule that is important in oxygen binding in hemoglobin. The molecule is made up of 24 identical protein subunits (pictured above).

This is a picture of the metal binding domain of the Amyloid Precursor protein.  This is one part of the amyloid protein and I’m still trying to find an aggregate picture of many of these proteins bound together to show … Continue reading →

To Do List: -Protect DNA from damage -Make proteins to halt DNA replication to repair the damage -Or, if damage is too severe, recommend that the cell commit suicide Such is the life of the p53 tumor suppressor I chose … Continue reading →

The Aqequora Victoria jellyfish glows green using a protein called the green flourescent protien (GFP) and the photo above is a blue variant of GFP.  Calcium ions in the Aqeuora bind to the protein, releasing the blue light.

Does anyone else see a pair of ballroom dancers in this one? You can almost see the love that ‘binds’ them… 🙂

This is one of the most common enzymes found in the cytochrome P450 mixed-function oxidase system, called CYP3A4. The P450 family of proteins is responsible for the metabolism of various compounds within the body such as drugs.  CYP3A4 is a … Continue reading →

Here it is finally, my protein, insulin. I like the view because it looks like two faces (one upside down) and shows all the different structures in insulin very well. Here is another view:

My current protein of interest: “Neurotrophins August 2005 Molecule of the Month by David S. Goodsell Previous Features Your brain is composed of 85 billion interconnected neurons. Individually, each neuron receives signals from its many neighbors, and based on these … Continue reading →

I liked how this protein seemed symmetrical over the diagonal line that can be seen in the middle of the molecule. The diagonal space draws the attention to the center, just like the bright ions did in the membrane protein … Continue reading →

Hey Guys, I’m having trouble uploading my molecule picture. When I try to upload it to the blog, I get a message about my image not being supported by blog security. Can anyone help me out? Thanks!

This is the ranasmurfin protein.  It has an unusual name and it’s function is unknown.  I chose to just render the backbone because I liked how it eliminated enough clutter to emphasize the symmetry of the protein.  It’s a blue … Continue reading →

This is a view of the 20S proteasome, a multienzymatic protein comples used to degrade damaged proteins. I liked this view because it is looking directly through the center of the barrel-shape of the protein.

I really like the symmetry of this protein. I also like how it kind of looks like a clock from this orientation. I’m very interested in trying to find a protein in which the function can be easily seen or … Continue reading →

I chose this orientation because it shows the protein’s one distinct alpha helix, and it also captures one of the protein’s characteristics- length.

This one looks very interesting if you move it around, each end has an interesting looking barrel leading to the center. I chose this view because it reminded me of how viruses and bacteria are often represented in science video animations. (i.e. it has a box like “head” and multiple “legs” (actually alpha helix chains) that surround the lower center). Continue reading →

I chose this orientation because it shows the simplicity of the prion, which is somewhat misleading to its crucial function. Continue reading →

This is my artistic 3D rendition of the calcium pump (a membrane protein). I chose this orientation because I loved the way it enhances the beauty of the bottom alpha helices!

This weekend you should: Choose a protein Render its image in 3D using the tools in the protein data bank Orient the protein with as much artistic flair as you can muster, and Post the image as a jpg picture. … Continue reading →

Hi all, I wanted to practice posting the image of a protein, so I looked for a protein with a name that might suggest a sense of humor.  I found Tubby… a very important protein involved in the development of … Continue reading →

I researched the Dengue Virus (tropical virus), which changes shapes when in acid, and Alpha – Amylase, which begins the process of starch digestions.

Hi guys! I’m having trouble finding how to view the protein rotationally (as phil did in class). Can anyone clue me in on how to do this through the molecule of the month website? Thanks and see ya in class … Continue reading →

The proteins I looked at were caspases and collagen. I chose collagen because it is the most abundant protein in our body and its properties allow us to maintain structure in our bodies. I chose caspase because it plays a … Continue reading →

Here’s a brief list of venues in town I think might be interested in hosting out Protein Portrait art exhibit… Art in the Valley Art Studios / Framing / Galleries 209 SW 2nd St. Corvallis Phone (541) 752-0811 Pegasus Frame … Continue reading →