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Abstract

Some proteins are soluble in aqueous solutions and some are not. Insoluble proteins can be a problem because the proteins can form large aggregates in solution which are difficult to purify, crystallize, and use in experiments. Compare the amino acid sequence and 3-D structures of some soluble and insoluble proteins (Berman, 2000). Is the structure polar or non-polar, and how might this affect solubility? How do detergents make an insoluble protein more soluble? Investigate how this technology is used to make cleaning products that are designed to break up the biochemical particulate matter that create stains on clothing and other surfaces. Are detergents or special enzymes involved?

Bibliography

Berman, H.M., et. al., 2000. "The Protein Data Bank," Nucleic Acids Research, 28 pp. 235-242 (2000). [accessed 3/25/06] http://www.rcsb.org/pdb/Welcome.do.

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Last edit date: 2006-12-27 14:22:48

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Project Summary

Difficulty  8  –  9 
Time required Long (a couple of weeks)
Prerequisites Basic introduction to chemistry
Material Availability A computer with Internet access is necessary for this project.
Cost Very Low (under $20)
Safety No issues


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Sponsored by generous grants from Bio-Rad and its Biotechnology Explorer program

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