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Curriculum Project Year
Research Project Year
Research Project Title
Computational Analysis of the Hydrophobicity of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Receptor Binding Domain
In the Shell Lab and Shea Lab, many research projects are being undertaken in collaboration to study protein interactions with molecular modeling. In particular, several of the projects study how water surrounding the protein binding sites impacts the binding process. In my project specifically, we characterized the hydrophobicity of the Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) for the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to investigate the impact hydrophobicity plays in the binding between the spike protein and the ACE2 human receptor protein. Computational water triplet analysis proved to be a useful model to measure hydrophobicity of the Covid spike protein rather than directly analyzing the amino acids themselves. It led to some interesting early conclusions that hydrophobicity may be a more important factor in determining binding strength for certain variants of SARS-CoV-2 while perhaps being less of an influential factor in others.
Curriculum Project Title
We Want to Pump…You Up: The Structure and Function of Proteins
This is a 9 or 10-day subunit (45-minute classes) covering many biology and chemistry concepts related to amino acids, peptide bonding, and protein structure. The 5E model is used to organize the lessons, which are part of a larger unit on organic and biochemistry. Preceding this subunit, students will have learned basic organic chemistry nomenclature and introductory information about macronutrient groups (carbohydrates, fats and proteins). Through these activities, students will learn about amino acid monomers; how peptide bonding results in protein polymers; primary, secondary and tertiary structure of proteins; and they will investigate the relative protein abundance in a variety of liquid food items often assumed to be protein rich. All the work completed for the individual activities will be recorded in each student’s lab journal and the final evaluation will be based on the completion of the project report and a group presentation
School
Oaks Christian
Grade Level
High School
Teaching Position:
Physics
Engineering
Science Field:
Physics
Supervisor:
Scott Shell
Joan-Emma Shea
Department:
Chemistry
Chemical Engineering
Mentor:
Sam Lobo