Hands-on Visualization Approach to Understanding Protein Folding in Biochemistry

A classroom activity focused on protein folding is introduced to biochemistry students. This activity is inexpensive, but provides a unique approach by differentiating amino acid R-groups both by type and size by the incorporation of different colored pipe cleaners. By first understanding the types of amino acids and the sizes of their R-groups students are able to simulate unique polypeptide chains. From this, students fold their construction into a 3-dimensional model based on intermolecular interactions and sterics. This classroom activity first starts with students constructing a linear chain of amino acids of various sizes and polarity using different colored pipe-cleaners for flexibility. The students can then generate structures and fit them to a final 3-D protein model. By teaching students about protein folding using a color and size scheme this hands-on visualization approach improves current activities of constructing protein models for classroom activities.