1. PROTEIN MODEL CHALLENGE Trial for 2017
Lin Wozniewski

2. Disclaimer
This presentation was prepared using draft rules.  There may be some changes in the final copy of the rules.  The rules which will be in your Coaches Manual and Student Manuals will be the official rules

3. What is Protein Modeling?
Protein modeling involves:
Building a protein model (using toobers)
Guided by visualization (using Jmol/JSmol)
Of 3D coordinates (available from RCSB PDB)
To understand the structural basis of protein stability, interactions and functions
What will students learn?
The shape, assembly and interactions of proteins
Understand chemical principles of stability and function in these molecules
Apply chemical principles to design new molecules.

4. Parts of Protein Modeling-The Competition
Pre-build model
Students will bring their pre-built models to the assigned impound
On-site build model
Students will sit at a computer and build a specific region of a protein with the toober provided, guided by visualization of 3-D coordinates from the RCSB PDB, using Jmol/JSmol program
Exam
Students will answer questions on a test
The test will cover structure and properties of amino acids, levels of protein structure (primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary), important interactions contributing to the function of the protein being studied.

5. What do the Students need to bring?
For impound
The Pre-build model including suitable additions highlighting functionally significant regions (max=2’X2’X2’) with scale 1 residue = 2 cm
A filled out form indicating what has been added, what it represents and why it is important. This needs to be on a 4”X6” notecard in 3 columns appropriately labeled.
For on-site build
Ability to visualize and explore specified regions of a given protein structures using Jmol/Jsmol
Ability to make models using the provided toobers and side chains
A ruler and a marker
For the exam
Something to write with
Up to 1 page (8.5 X 11”) with appropriate notes and references

6. What will MSOE and RCSB PDB provide?
For the Pre-build
Pre-build scoring rubrics
3-D printed model (judge’s model) for event supervisors to use and keep
For the On-site build
On-site build toobers
A CD with Jmol/JSmol and all files needed for visualization of the specified region of the protein
On-site build scoring rubrics
For the Exam
The test
Answers to the test

7. What the event supervisor needs to provide
Enough expertise to be able to interpret and use the provided rubrics to
judge the models and
grade the exam.
Computers for each participating team with
Jmol/JSmol program installed and
All necessary files for the event copied to the computer.

8. What the students need to do to Prepare
Get familiar with protein structure. Learn about
Levels of protein structure - primary, secondary, and tertiary and quaternary structure
Properties of amino acid side chains – which ones are acid vs basic and hydrophobic vs hydrophilic etc.
Interactions in protein structure – covalent (peptide bonds and disulfide bridges) and non-covalent (hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic interactions, charge based interactions), metal coordination.
Learn to visualize and explore protein structures.
Learn about the Protein Data Bank (
Learn to use Jmol/JSmol to visualize structures from the PDB

9. What the students need to do to Prepare
Practice protein modeling
Mark the toober (or other similar material) in ~2 cm segments. Each of these segments denote one amino acids in the protein. This corresponds to the primary structure.
Visualize the different alpha helix and beta strand elements in Jmol/JSmol and fold corresponding regions of the toober accordingly. This is the secondary structure.
Fold all secondary structural elements with respect to each other so that they come together to form the 3-D shape of the protein. This is the tertiary structure of the region being modeled.
Identify functionally important structural features to answer questions and/or add creative enhancements to your model. (see following slide).

10. What the students need to do to Prepare
How to determine the functionally important structural features?
Read the manuscript describing the structure, review article or Molecule of the Month feature provided. Pay attention to any specific amino acid residues, secondary structural elements etc. that are discussed in the context of the protein function.
Visualize the full molecule at the RCSB PDB. Pay close attention to all polymer chains in the structure and how they interact with each other. Usually amino acid residues at the interaction interface have important roles in the function of the protein. Also pay attention to chemical principles in protein folding and stability – hydrophobic amino acids in the core of globular structures, polar and charged amino acids on the surface etc.

11. Background info about 20 amino acids
Backbone consist of:
Amino group (NH2 or NH3+)
Carbon atom, where the side chain is bound
Carboxyl group (COO- or COOH)
Side chains are:
Hydrophobic
Have only carbon and hydrogen atoms
Usually buried inside the protein
Non-polar or apolar
Hydrophilic
have hydroxyl, carboxylic acid, or amine groups
Are generally on the outside of the protein
May be acidic or basic, or polar

12. Primary Structure of a Protein
The Primary Structure of the Protein is the actual order of the amino acids in the protein.
This is the next thing the students must determine after they learn about amino acids & the side chains
Lys- Glu-Thr-Arg-Arg-Arg-Lys-etc.

13. Secondary Structure of a Protein
The 2 most common types of secondary structure are the alpha helix and beta pleat
The alpha helix ONLY coils right-handed (if you are going up the stairs, your right hand rests on the outside banister going up)
The beta pleat should bend back and forth in a zigzag pattern of about 20 at each start of a new amino acid
Alpha Helix
Beta Pleat

14. Tertiary Structure of a Protein
The tertiary structure of the protein is the final folding that is the result of the molecular interactions formed by the primary and secondary structure.
This is determined using the J-Mol program.
What a finished pre-build might look like
Pipe Cleaner
Toober
12 Gauge Wire

15. Resources Lending library Jmol Program
From MSOE
From RCSB PDB
Lending library
Jmol Program
Science Olympiad related material
PDB-101
Molecule of the Month features
Exploration of specific PDB entries
Science Olympiad related material

16. A mini event
Make a small part of one protein (a zinc finger) using resources that a team will have during an on-site build.
Look at the scoring rubrics for the model and how to use them.
Score your own model.
The Challenge:
Use the 1ZAA pdb file, create an image in Jmol at identify key structural features, and use it to fold a Mini-Toober model
Note: During the actual competition teams will have access to a computer with a specific version of Jmol/JSmol and necessary files. They will not have access to the internet.

17. Pdb Database Type 1zaa into PDB look-up window & hit search.
Click on the sequence tab
Complete sequence is there
Click anywhere on sequence-Jmol will come up and show you molecule (or click on display Jmol button)
Scroll down so that you see poymer 3 chain again. Jmol window will come with you.
Put pointer over any residue & leave pointer there for a couple of seconds. The amino acid letters will appear.

18. Jmol Right Click and move mouse to move molecule Main commands
Backbone
Cartoon
Ribbon
Wireframe
Spacefill
Type command and then a number (1-499 work)
Click on Execute
To get rid of that picture type the command and then 0
Hold mouse over one spot for a second or two to see letters & position of amino acid

19. Guide to making a Zinc finger
Visualize the backbone of amino acids 4-31 of the Zif268 protein (PDB ID 1ZAA) and use it to build a model, which has:
Two β strands starting near the amino terminus, making a β sheet
Has one α chain near the carboxylic end
Has one zinc ion at the center of the structure
Two Histidines side chains (25 & 29) and two Cysteine side chains (7 & 12) coordinate the zinc ion and stabilize the structure.
The structure has hydrophobic core with residues such as phenylaninine 16 & leucine 22
The Arginine 18 side chain interacts with the DNA

20. Scoring Zinc Finger-Score Sheet
Rubric-Sample Regional-
Description
Points
Blue cap on N-terminal amino acid (Pro4) 1
Red cap on C-terminal amino acid (Gly31)
1 Alpha-helix (19-31) 2
Alpha-helix right handed
Alpha-helix properly formed (phone cord)
Alpha-helix right length (~3.5 turns)
Beta Strand #1 (5-7)
Beta Strand #2 (14-16)
Beta Strands formed properly (zig-zag)
Beta Strands form beta N terminus
Beta Sheet & Alpha helix not far apart

21. Regional Scoring Continued
N & C terminus in opposite directions 2
Model flat
Zinc Ion
2 Histidines (His25 & 29)(coordinates Zn)
2 Cysteines (Cys 7 & 12) (coordinates Zn)
Arginine 18 (attaches to DNA)
Hydrophobic amino acids face in(Phe16, Leu22)
DNA Attached to Protein
Creative additions appropriate
Creative additions accurate
3X5 card clear

22. Full Rubric Sheet Whole Molecule Overview N-terminus Beta-sheet
C-terminus
N-terminus
Alpha-helix
Beta-sheet

23. Questions?
Thank You

24. Rubric Details Blue cap on N-terminal amino acid (Pro4) (1 pt)
To receive this point, the blue cap should be positioned on the first amino acid. This should be next to the beta-strand. See picture to the right for correct placement of the blue end cap.
Red cap on C-terminal amino acid (Gly31) (1 pt)
To receive this point, the red cap should be positioned on the last amino acid. This should be next to the alpha-helix. See picture to the right for correct placement of the red end cap.
Alpha helix (amino acids 19-31) is located at C-terminus of protein (2 pts)
There should be an alpha helix located at the C-terminus of the protein. See figure to right. On the model and in the figure, the alpha helix is colored magenta.

25. Rubric Details, Continued
Alpha helix is right-handed (2 pts)
Alpha helices are right-handed. Check the alpha helix in the model to confirm that the helix is right-handed. If the alpha helix is right-handed, the model is awarded two points.
To determine if the helix is right-handed, find one of the ends of the helix and imagine that the helix is a spiral staircase. Pretend that you are climbing that staircase and the helix is the hand-rail, which is always on the ourside edge of the staircase. If you would put your right hand on the toober as you go up the staircase, you have a right-handed helix. If you would put your left hand on the toober, you have a left-handed helix and the model would not receive the points.
Alpha helix is properly formed (helix resembles a telephone cord) (1 pt)
The helix should be formed in such a way that it resembles a telephone cord stretched out slightly. The helix should not be compacted down so that there is not any space between the turns. It should also not be so stretched out that there is a lot of space between the turns
Alpha helix is appropriate length (13 amino acids; ~3.5 turns) (2 pts)
The helix is 13 amino acids, and each turn in the helix is approximately 3.6 amino acids in length. Therefore, the length of this helix should be ~3.5 turns.

26. Rubric Details, Continued
Beta strand #1 (amino acids 5-7) (2 pts)
To receive these points, the model should have a beta strand from amino acids 5-7 (3 amino acids in length). The first beta strand should be located near the blue end cap. The model and the figure to the right have the beta strands colored yellow.
. Beta strand #2 (amino acids 14-16) (2 pts)
To receive these points, the model should have a beta strand from amino acids (3 amino acids in length). The second beta strand is located 6 amino acids (12 cm) away from the first. The model and the figure to the right have the beta strands colored yellow.
Beta strand is formed properly (1 pt)
To receive this point, the model should have properly formed beta strands. The model can have the beta strands in a zig-zag shape (a bend every 2 cm) or it could have them be represented as straight regions to the model. There should not be any helical or coiled portions in this area

27. Rubric Details, Continued
Please note that there is not much space between the two secondary structures.
Helix is arranged next to beta sheet (protein should be compact with a 2-stranded beta sheet lying next to an alpha helix; helix and sheet should not be too far apart) (2 pts)
To receive these points, the beta sheet and alpha helix should be located close to one another. There should only be enough space between the two secondary structure to allow for a zinc ion to coordinate between the 4 amino acids that bind the ion. In other words, there should not be much space between the alpha helix and the beta sheet
12. N-terminus (blue cap) and C-terminus (red cap) are pointed in opposite directions (2 pts)
To receive these points, the N-terminus and C-terminus of the protein should be facing away from each other. If you hold the model so that the beta sheet is facing the left and the helix is on the right (like the picture shown to the right), then the N-terminus should be pointing upward and the C-terminus is pointing downward.
N-terminus
C-terminus

28. Rubric Details, Continued
Model should be flat in that the beta strands and alpha helix are occupying the same plane (2 pts)
To receive these points, the alpha helix and beta sheet should be in the same plane (please see figure to the right). The model should be “flat” in that neither the helix nor the sheet protrudes upward or downward form the main axis. You should be able to look through the beta sheet and see the alpha helix
Creative Additions to model (2 pts each):
Zinc ion
To receive these points, the model should have a zinc ion located between the alpha helix and beta sheet closer to the C-terminus than the N-terminus. Please model and figure to the right (zinc ion is colored dark red).
2 Histidines (His 25 and 29) (coordinates Zn) 2 Cysteines (Cys 7 and 12) (coordinates Zn)
Cysteine
To receive these points, the model should have 2 Cysteines at positions #7 and #12.
If zinc ion is present, then these Cysteines should be connected to the zinc ion.
Arginine 18 (attaches to DNA)
Arginine
To receive these points, the model should have an Arginine at position 18.
If DNA is present on model, this amino acid should interact with the DNA.
To receive these points, the model should have 2 Histidines at positions #25 and #29.
If zinc ion is present, then these Histidines should be connected to the zinc ion

29. Rubric Details 6: To receive point(s) …
Creative Additions to model (two points each):
Arginine 18 bound to DNA (2 pts)
The model should have an Arginine at position 18.
If DNA is present on model, this amino acid should interact with the DNA.
Hydrophobic amino acids (Phe16, Leu22) (2 pts)
These residues should face inward to create a stable hydrophobic core stabilizing protein
DNA attached to protein (2 pts)
The model should have DNA bound to the zinc finger.
Zinc finger should be in the major groove of the DNA.
Arginine
Leucine
Phenylalanine

30. Rubric Details 7: To receive point(s) …
Creative additions are appropriate (2 pts)
The creative additions should be relevant to telling the functional story of the protein.
Any amino acid shown should play an important role in the stability (Zinc ion coordination, hydrophobic core) or function of the molecule (binding to DNA).
Models that have displayed all of the amino acids should not be awarded these points.
Creative additions are accurate (2 pts)
The creative additions need to be accurate and reflect the scientific information that has been provided in Goodsell’s Molecule of the Month, the PDB file or alternative resources.
Students submitted a 3x5 card to explain model (2 pts)
A 3x5 card should be submitted along with the model, describing what additional features have been added to the model and what they represents.