Excellence: for each, for all
Delivering a cross curricular Protein Art project in a secondary titan academy
Mr E Clark (AHT, Arts) and Mr A Cameron (STEM curriculum coordinator), Thomas Gainsborough School, Sudbury
Introductions:
Mr E Clark, Assistant Headteacher for the visual and performing arts, head of art and design, curriculum plusness, cultural capital and Artsmark lead for the Thomas Gainsborough School. Caffeine addict.
Mr Andrew Cameron, Teacher of Science, leader of STEM curriculum. Go cart enthusiast.
About our school:
Thomas Gainsborough School is a secondary titan academy of nearly 1600 students located in the town of Sudbury on the Suffolk border, birthplace of Thomas Gainsborough. We have been awarded Artsmark platinum status twice by the Arts council of England and were the first school in Suffolk to be awarded the Heritage Schools Award by Historic England. Our school leads a group of CALSAs (Cultural and Arts Leaders in Schools and Academies) across Suffolk.
Initial planning
Using existing structures to create mass participation
Stage one: STEM pathway Science sessions
STEM Curriculum
Protein Art
Quick Quiz
Quick Quiz
Learning outcomes
Cells
Your body is made from billions of living cells, each one specialised to carry out a specific task.
Proteins
Individual cells are made up of microscopic structures called organelles and they in turn are made from complex chemicals called proteins.
Amino acids
Proteins are polymers, long chain like chemicals. The “links” in the chain are called amino acids. Amino acids are relatively simple chemicals.
Amino acids
There are only 20 different amino acids that make up all living creatures. How they are put together determines the structure of the protein and how it functions.
Amino acids
Use the Molymods to create the simplest amino acid, Glycine.
Shapes of proteins
Different proteins have different shapes, some weird and wonderful. Viruses are created by complex protein structures and can even have geometric shapes.
Protein circus – Station 1 – Amino acids
Using the molymods create one of the other Amino acids that make up the building blocks of life. Sketch your amino acid once it is complete.
Protein circus – Station 1 – Amino acids
Protein circus – Station 1 – Amino acids
Protein circus – Station 1 – Amino acids
Protein circus – Station 2 – Virus Origami
Many viruses are formed by geometric collections of complex proteins. Make a model Zika virus using the net provided.
Protein circus – Station 3 – Exploring enzymes
Complete the enzymes in action activity and attempt the worksheet.
Protein circus – Station 3 – Exploring enzymes
Step 1. A is the Enzyme, a protein designed to react with a specific molecule called a substrate, D. The active site (the yellow dot) is where the substrate fits into the enzyme.
Place piece D into the active site. The active site is the right shape to accept the substrate. The positive part of the substrate is attracted to the negative of the active site and the negative part of the substrate is attracted to the positive of the active site (opposites attract!).
Protein circus – Station 3 – Exploring enzymes
Step 2. Now try placing substrate E into the active site.
The substrate is the right shape but charges on the substrate and active site are now the same and therefore repel.
Enzyme A cannot interact with substrate E
Protein circus – Station 3 – Exploring enzymes
Step 3. Place piece F into the active site, sketch what you have created.
Can substrate D still fit into the active site?
Piece F inhibits competitively by blocking the active site and stops the enzyme being able to work.
Protein circus – Station 3 – Exploring enzymes
Step 4. Place piece G into the space in the enzyme that is not the active site. Sketch what has happened to the shape of the enzyme.
Can substrate D still fit into the active site?
Piece G inhibits the active site non competitively by changing the shape of the enzyme and active site and stops the enzyme being able to work.
Protein circus – Station 3 – Exploring enzymes
Summary: Enzymes will only work with specific substrates and if the active site is compromised then the enzyme will also cease to work effectively. Some poisons are toxic because they do just this, either competitively or non-competitively inhibiting the active site. Changing the temperature or pH of an enzyme can also alter the shape or charges of the active site, again causing the enzyme to stop working. If an enzyme is heated up too much it will lose it’s shape permanently and has been said to be denatured.
Protein circus – Station 4 – Amino acids and shapes of proteins
Proteins are formed by amino acids joining together to form a polymer, a long chain of amino acids.
The shape of the protein is then determined by the types of amino acids and how they are ordered in the chain.
Protein circus – Station 4 – Amino acids and shapes of proteins
Step 1. Use the amino acid side chain chart to place the amino acids on the correct places on the circular display. A couple may be missing but don’t worry about that.
Protein circus – Station 4 – Amino acids and shapes of proteins
Step 2. Randomly pick amino acids and place them on the “toober” about 3cm apart from each other
Protein circus – Station 4 – Amino acids and shapes of proteins
Step 3. Use the following rules to bend and twist the toober into the shape of the protein.
Rule 1. Amino acids with a yellow base must have their side chains facing thecentre of the molecule
Rule 2. Amino acids with blue, red or white side chains must be facing the outside of your molecule.
Rule 3. The two Cysteine amino acids must have their side chains facing each other
Protein circus – Station 4 – Amino acids and shapes of proteins
Step 4. Photograph your protein or sketch it’s shape. Let others in your group have a go with the amino acids in different orders. No two protiens should be the same shape!
Protein circus – Station 5 – Shapes of Enzymes
Enzymes are designed to fit the substrate they work with perfectly. Investigate using the 3D model how the shape of the enzyme is effected by the substrate that needs to fit into it’s active site.
Protein circus – Station 5 – Shapes of Enzymes
Step 1. Place the 5 coloured “pins” randomly into the holes of the black “bone”. This is your substrate.
Protein circus – Station 5 – Shapes of Enzymes
Step 2. Place the 5 coloured rings randonmly on the blue or yellow “toober” at equal intervals.
Protein circus – Station 5 – Shapes of Enzymes
Step 3. Bend and twist the “toober” so that the correct coloured rings stick to the magnets in the ends of the coloured pins.
You have now created an active site that will fit your substrate! Photograph or sketch your model. Have others try it with the pins and rings in different positions. No two should be the same.
Stage Two: STEM pathway Art lessons and Sententia sessions
Key Stage Three
Art and Design
Protein Data Bank
Project
November 2019
Key Stage Three
Art and Design
What is the Protein Data Bank?
PDBe is the European resource for the collection, organisation
and dissemination of data on biological macromolecular structures.
The data they collect is organised into a large bank of information
that is accessed by scientist worldwide.
3D Protein Structure from Phalacrocorax carbo (Great cormorant)
Key Stage Three
Art and Design
So how are we going to use this to inspire our artwork?
You are going to choose one of the proteins from the resources given to you by your class teacher. There are a number
of different proteins from various sources to choose from. This will be your stimulus and start point for your very own piece
of protein art.
Examples of student pieces that were selected previously to feature in the PBDe calendar
Key Stage Three
Art and Design
Personal statement
Which of the different proteins is your piece inspired by? Why? (include the number and source e.g. animal)
How have you represented this?
Which media have you chosen?
Evaluation and future planning