Tactile Teaching: Exploring the Molecular World with Physical Models of Proteins and Other Molecular Structures

1. American Society of Cell Biology46th Annual Meeting K12 Science Partnership Lunch Tactile Teaching:Exploring the Molecular World with Physical Models of Proteins and Other Molecular Structures by Tim Herman and Margaret Franzen Milwaukee School of EngineeringCenter for BioMolecular Modeling www.rpc.msoe.edu/cbm

2. The MSOE Center for BioMolecular Modeling • We make physical models of molecular structures, using rapid prototyping technology. • Science Education Outreach Mission • Professional Development Program for High School Science Teachers • Undergraduate Curriculum Development www.rpc.msoe.edu/cbm

3. Any image that can be created in the computer environment of RasMol,… … can now be converted to a physical model by rapid prototyping. Protein Models….in 4 Easy Steps x,y,z coordinatesProtein Data Bank Ply/Stl file RP-RasMol Z Corp 3D-Printer

4. From the Protein Data Bank at www.pdb.org 239 amino acids 1833 Total Atoms A Protein Model Starts with its PDB File.

5. Each triangle,--- 3 points and a vector MOLECULAR CAD… ...its all about triangles. A Heme Group

6. Powerful q Physical Models are Thinking Tools Physical Models • are (almost) universally effective in capturing students’ interest • allow you to “see” things that are not obvious in computer-generated images. • stimulate questions. • are synergistic with computer visualization tools www.rpc.msoe.edu/cbm

7. Exploring the Models I Water Kits… Amino Acid Starter Kit • Because: • Life happens in water. • Proteins fold in water. • How does a protein know what shape to fold up into? • The basic laws of chemistry that drive protein folding. www.rpc.msoe.edu/cbm

8. Physical Models and Computer Visualization --- are Synergistic Example: How stringently are the “ChemicalPrinciples that Govern Protein Folding” applied to real proteins? --- A Jmol Tutorial --- www.rpc.msoe.edu/cbm/resources www.rpc.msoe.edu/cbm/resources

9. Science Education Outreach Programs • NIH SEPA Program • Summer Course for High School Teachers • Two Student Enrichment Programs • SMART Teams • Science Olympiad Protein Folding event • NSF-CCLI Curriculum Projects • Proteins in Active Learning Modules • PALM Workshop – June 2007 www.rpc.msoe.edu/cbm

10. The PALM Project Proteins in Active Learning Modules • An NSF-CCLI Project • Making the Molecular World “Real” through the use of: • 1. Physical Models • 2. Computer Visualization Tools (Jmol) • 3. Illustrations • 4. Flash Animations • 5. Graphical Representations of Data Multiple Representations of Molecular Structures. www.rpc.msoe.edu/cbm

11. …and a good teacher! Molecular Stories Compelling molecular stories begin withPhysical Models… …and are elaborated with an artful combination of Computer Visualizations Illustrations Animations Graphical Representations of Data www.rpc.msoe.edu/cbm

12. Two Molecular Stories Evolution in Action Molecular Gymnastics The Influenza HA Protein Acetylcholinesterase How the influenza virus hemagglutinin protein undergoes a dramatic conformational change upon endocytosis, leading to fusion of the viral and cellular membranes. How an effort to control mosquito populations by spraying with an insecticide inevitably leads to the emergence of resistant mosquitoes. www.rpc.msoe.edu/cbm

13. The MSOE Model Lending Library • Physical Model Collections --- in suitcases • Borrow for two weeks, “just like a book from Inter-Library Loan” • No Cost, --- except for return postage. • In Two Formats: • Classroom Sets • Discussion Props / Lab Stations www.rpc.msoe.edu/cbm/lib

14. Discussion Props and Lab Stations • Introduction to Protein Structure • Serine Protease Collection • Ribosome Collection • Membrane Transport Collection • Zinc Finger Collection • DNA Collection • Acetylcholinesterase ~New~ • Immunology Collection ~New~ www.rpc.msoe.edu/cbm/lib

15. Classroom Sets • Amino Acid Starter Kit© • Water Kit© Collection • NaCl Lattices • Alpha Helix/Beta Sheet Collection ~New~ • BioInformatics Map of the β-Globin Gene© • DNA Discovery Kit© • Mini-Toober β-Globin Folding Kit© • MHC Class I Collection ~New~ www.rpc.msoe.edu/cbm/lib

16. The PALM Project Proteins in Active Learning Modules A 3-Day Summer Workshop for Undergraduate Faculty June 6-8, 2007 Milwaukee School of Engineering Models / Jmols / Animations / Illustrations Assessment Instruments www.rpc.msoe.edu/cbm/courses

17. 3D Molecular Designs • A Small Business, spun off of the CBM • A Dual Mission: • To develop and commercialize innovative instructional materials • To create custom protein models for researchers. • R&D Program Supported by SBIR awards • RP-RasMol design software; Water Kit; DNA Discovery Kit; Paper Bioinformatics Maps; Beta-Globin Toober Folding Kit etc. www.3dmoleculardesigns.com

18. Rapid Prototyping Technology • An Additive Manufacturing Technology • A Layer-by-Layer Approach • Five Technologies • Sterolithography • Laminated Object Manufacturing • Selective laser Sintering • Fused Deposition Modeling • Color Z Corporation 3D Printing www.rpc.msoe.edu/cbm