Investigating Biochemical Structure/Function Relationships in an Undergraduate Biochemistry Course

本提案旨在利用结构功能关系领域的最新进展，将生物化学实验室转变为一个动态的互动学习环境。认识到实践经验在使男女学生积极参与自身教育方面的价值，该项目有三个目标：让学生通过创新的实验室和课堂作业体验生物分子的结构功能关系，让学生接触现代生物化学实验室设备和技术，以便更好地为信息研究生的努力做好准备，使学生对生物化学实验有扎实的基础知识。具体来说，一个互动的生物化学实验室将围绕结构为基础的学习活动，最终将导致生化功能的理解。每组实验将模拟一个研究环境，其中实验可能需要数周才能完全开发。完成一个部分后，学生将被要求以生物化学期刊的格式撰写一篇论文。第一部分将集中在过表达，纯化和部分表征的酶利用生物化学的基本技术。下一节将探讨更复杂的蛋白质结构功能关系。学生将接触到一个高科技的紫外可见分光光度计，以收集主要的动力学数据进行比较，他们将使用两个硅图形工作站收集的概念数据。最后一节将集中在核酸的结构功能关系。虽然这一提议并不针对妇女或少数民族，但一些研究表明，在现实环境中的实践经验有助于留住科学项目中的妇女。由于生物化学是化学专业学生中最受欢迎的选修课，并且对于预科学生来说越来越必要，因此本课程的修订将影响各种各样的学生。

This proposal seeks to transform the biochemistry laboratory into a dynamic interactive learning environment utilizing the recent advances in the area of structure function relationships. Recognizing the value of hands-on experiences in making women and male students active participants in their own education, the goal of this project is threefold: to have students experience the structural function relationship of biomolecules through innovative laboratories and class work, to expose students to modem biochemical laboratory equipment and technology in order to better prepare the info post-graduate endeavors, and to provide the students with a well-founded knowledge of experimentation in biochemistry. Specifically, an interactive biochemistry laboratory will be designed around structure based learning activities that will ultimately lead to an understanding of biochemical function. Each group of experiments will be mimic a research setting in which the experiments may take many weeks to fully develop. Upon completion of a section, the students will be required to write a paper in the format of a biochemical journal. The first section will focus on over expression, purification and partial characterization of an enzyme utilizing fundamental techniques in biochemistry. The next section will explore more sophisticated structure function relationships of proteins. Students will be exposed to a high technology UV-Visible spectrophotorneter to gather primary kinetic data to be compared to the conceptual data they will gather using two Silicon Graphic workstations. The final section will focus on the structure function relationship of nucleic acids. Though this proposal is not targeting women or minorities, a number of studies have suggested that hands on experiences in a realistic setting have aided in the retention of women in science programs. Since biochemistry is the most popular elective among chemistry students, and is becoming more necessary for pre-professional students, revisions of this course will influence a broad variety of students.