updated protein list--look here first

Please double check this list to see if I have your protein correct.

First, these are the proteins that had been selected but are now available:

angiotensin-converting enzyme

clathrin

tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase

DNA ligase

Here is the list of selected proteins:

albumin

anthrax

aquaporin2

Bacteriorhodopsin

bifunctional enzyme

botulinum toxin

calmodulin

dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV)

DNA helicase

DNA polymerase

dystrophin

fibrin

glutamine synthetase

hemoglobin

HIV-1 protease

IgG

influenza neuraminidase

insulin

kinesin

Lactate Dehydrogenase

Luciferase

lysozyme

malate synthase

Mechanosensitive Channel of Small Conductance (MscS)

nitric oxide synthase

nitrogenase

NORTH-ATLANTIC OCEAN POUT ANTIFREEZE PROTEIN

Pentalenene Synthase

POT1 protection of Telomeres protein 1

Riboflavin synthase

RuBisCO

snow flea antifreeze quasi-racemate

telomerase

reverse transcriptase

thrombin

topoisomerase

triose phosphate isomerase

troponin

Assignment #1, Due Wednesday, March 2

For you first assignment, you must explore different ways to represent your protein and then post pictures to your blog. Try cartoons, space-filling representations, sticks. Highlight prosthetic groups. Change the colors by secondary structures, chains, chainbows, etc. Use at least two different background colors (under the [Display] pulldown, and examine different use of [color space] from [Display].

Post 5 different representations by the end of the day on March 2. Your assignment is not complete until I have received your blog address--I will post a comment on your blog to confirm that I have received it.

This assignment is worth 5 points.

sign up here for Protein of the Year (post 2)

The following proteins are no longer available, though many other great choices remain:

angiotensin-converting enzyme

aquaporin2

clathrin

DNA helicase

DNA ligase

DNA polymerase

fibrin

glutamine synthetase

IgG

influenza neuraminidase

Luciferase

lysozyme

nitric oxide synthase

nitrogenase

POT1 protection of Telomeres protein 1

Riboflavin synthase

snow flea antifreeze quasi-racemate

telomerase reverse transcriptase

thrombin

topoisomerase

triose phosphate isomerase

troponin

tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase

sign up here for Protein of the Year (post 1)

Sign up in the comments section for your choice of proteins starting at 12:30 PM on Thursday, February 10. If others are already signed up, you can do a search for your protein name to make sure it is still available. At convenient times I will collate and alphabetize the proteins that have already been selected; you'll find these in a new post to make your selection easier.

Once you sign up, you are not locked into that protein permanently, but you need to make the change here (or on a following post) so that others know what new protein you have and that your previous protein is now available.

Protein of the Year assignment

For your Protein of the Year assignment you will need to convince your classmates that your protein is fantastic. Your goal is to win the coveted "Protein of the Year" prize. (The prize is the fame and bragging rights...don't count on getting cash.) To do so, you will generate a web page via Blogger that will show off your protein. Though some proteins can make a convincing case on their own with their structures, you will want to enhance your case by pointing out what makes your protein the best. Though you need not follow the template, feel free to examine the pages for these proteins to give you an idea of what to show:

• ribonuclease inhibitor
• GFP
• rhodopsin
• alpha-hemolysin

Each student will pick a unique protein (first come, first served). You will not be able to choose any of the four listed above, nor can you choose leghemoglobin, methlymalonyl-CoA mutase, COX1 & COX2, or catalase. I will post a sign up blog and let you know the start time, and student choices will be awarded in the order in which you have commented--watch for more details.

In the meantime, each of you should start your own blog on blogger (you should be able to find instructions from this page...let me know if you're having trouble), and then make sure that you're able to post comments. Look around for proteins of interest, whether they be from the Protein Data Bank, your protein from last semester, your research, the textbook, etc., and find a backup or two in case someone chooses your protein before you.

Here are a few links you may find useful:

• RCSB Protein Data Bank
• the beginnings of my Virtual Protein Museum; there are several proteins here whose pages are incomplete. You may use this as a starting point for your own page (though your work should be original)

For resources, you may use the Molecule of the Month site from the Protein Data Bank, primary literature, wikipedia, other web pages, etc., but all of your work must be original. Plagiarism will be dealt with according to Calvin policy; if you are in doubt, please ask. More details, including deadlines, will be coming soon.