Protein to Disease
Project Description
Our class was tasked with deeply researching an assigned disease in groups of 3 associated with protein dysfunction. My group consisted of Nick Carlamagno, Vaughn Miguel, and me, and our disease to learn about was Huntington's. We were asked to not present via slide show, so our final project display was a poster.
In detail describe how a protein can cause a disease by:
Detailing what protein synthesis is
Give a general background into a chosen disease (Huntingtons, alzheimers, parkensons, cystic fibrosis, creutzfeld-jakob, diabetes type 2, ect)
Compare the normal protein to the disease protein
Evidence of Work
Concepts
Protein
A protein is a naturally occurring substance that consists of amino acids joined by peptide bonds. They make up many essential biological compounds like enzymes, hormones, and antibodies.
Our projects all looked at protein affected diseases, and our proteins were associated with protein misfolding.
Protein Synthesis
This is the process of creating protein molecules in cells. The two stages are transcription and translation.
Our project described protein synthesis normally, and how Huntington's Disease is due to a random misstep in the process that causes repeat nucleotides.
Transcription
The process in the beginning of protein synthesis where a part of the nucleotide sequence of DNA gets copied into a complementary sequence in RNA. From this sequence mRNA is produced and moves to start translation.
Translation
Taking place in the ribosomes, translation is the deciphering of a mRNA message into a polypeptide chain. This polypeptide chain then starts folding to create a protein.
Ribosomes
Ribosomes are organelles made up of protein and rRNA. Translation occurs here, so it is a big player in protein sythesis.
DNA
AKA Deoxyribonucleic acid. Nucleic acid that contains deoxyribose (sugar). These are the instructions that mRNA copies during transcription.
RNA
AKA Ribonucleic Acid. Single stranded nucleic acid that contains the sugar ribose. This is the baseline term for the next two concepts.
mRNA
AKA Messenger RNA. RNA molecule that carries copies of instructions for the creation of amino acids into proteins from DNA to the rest of the cell. It is made up of codons which are sequences of 3 nucleotides on the strand of RNA. These each code for a single amino acid.
tRNA
A small RNA molecule involved in protein sythesis. An amino acid is attached to each anti-codon in tRNA. These anti-codons form with the codons of mRNA to create peptide chains which fold into proteins.
Amino Acids
Compound with two ends; one with an amino group (-NH2) and another with a carboxyl group (-COOH). These are attached to tRNA, which attach to mRNA in the ribosomes to form polypeptide chains.
Mutation
A mutation is a change in genetic material. Mutations can be harmful, helpful, or neutral in their effect. Silent mutations result in a neutral effect since it codes for the same amino acid as it normally would. Mutations are caused by duplication, deletion, inversion, or translocation in chromosomes.
Our project focused on a gene mutation caused by duplication of the CAG nucleotide, which led to the production of the protein huntingtin, causing Huntington's Disease.
Reflection
I feel that this project went well for my group and I. We were able to follow the correct timeline throughout the workdays which allowed us to spend a good amount of time understanding what we were working on and do a better job presenting it. Each of us found jobs in the group that allowed us to get done what we needed to.
Personally, I think I did a great job focusing on the research portion of the project, which is something I will continue to do from now on. While I researched the questions provided to us, I was able to connect what we had learned in class to what I saw on my own so that I comprehended the subject more than I have previously. This is evidence of me striving to be a conscientious learner. Next, I also think I did well to communicate with my group each step I was taking and hearing their perspective on what could be done better. This collaboration helped us produce a competent piece showing our work.
One thing I could have improved upon are design aspects of the poster to make it more interesting/appealing to the eye. Our project looks clean, however I do think there could've been a way to integrate more images or something to spice it up a bit. The last thing I could've improved on would be preparing more for the presentation with my group, because we haven't quite figured out all the talking parts yet.