This project was prepared as part of a BioQUEST faculty development workshop entitled Implementing Bioinformatics in Introductory Undergraduate Biology Courses:
Exploring Microbiology, Molecular Data and Visualization at San Diego Supercomputing Center in January 2007. The BioQUEST Curriculum Consortium is committed to the reform of undergraduate biology instruction through an emphasis on engaging students in realistic scientific practices. This approach is sometimes characterized as an inquiry driven approach and is captured in BioQUEST's three P's (problem-posing, problem-solving, and peer-persuasion). As part of this workshop groups of faculty were encouraged to initiate innovative curricular projects. We are sharing these works in progress in the hope that they will stimulate further exploration, collaboration and development. Please see the following links for additional information:
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Science Teachers and Students
Various toxins that bind the acetylcholine receptor are compared to identify similarities in amino acid sequence. The hypothesis is that similar functioning proteins will have similar amino acid sequences.
Computer with Internet access and a browser.
Protein Data Bank (PDB), Swiss Protein Data Bank, Washington University at St. Louis website, Biology Workbench and PubMed. Link to Molecule of the Month: Acetylcholine Receptor: http://function.rcsb.org:8080/pdb/static.do?p=education_discussion/molecule_of_the_month/current_month.html
Acetylcholine receptor amino acid toxin similarities may be used in considering drug development that may affect neurolgical disorders.
- PPT_AChReceptor_Toxins4.ppt
- Amino Acid Sequence Comparisons.rtf