3D Printing of Protein Models in an Undergraduate Laboratory: Leucine Zippers

An upper-division undergraduate laboratory experiment is described that explores the structure/function relationship of protein domains, namely leucine zippers, through a molecular graphics computer program and physical models fabricated by 3D printing. By generating solvent accessible surfaces and color-coding hydrophobic, basic, and acidic amino acid residues, students are able to visualize noncovalent interactions that are important in protein folding and protein–protein interactions.