The interrelationship of structure and function is a key theme of biology. One important example of this relationship involves how the three-dimensional shapes of proteins are related to the roles they play at the cellular level. The treatment of protein structure in many introductory textbooks, however, is cursory and focuses on the relationships among primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structure without a clear link to how these levels of organization contribute to functional aspects of the protein. This short and engaging hands-on activity helps reinforce the connection between the ultimate spatial conformation of a specific protein and its “job.” By exploring the structure and function of a hypothetical protein, students develop a conceptual understanding of how these important elements connect in real life (e.g., the roles of actin and myosin in muscle contraction, of proton pumps in cellular energy conversions, or of immunoglobulin proteins in helping an immune system fight...

You do not currently have access to this content.