Using Magnets and Flexible 3D-Printed Structures to Illustrate Protein (Un)folding

Proteins are “magical” workers inside our body, as they accomplish most of the cellular functions. Here we report on a novel approach to teach protein folding and unfolding, using magnets and flexible 3D-printed protein structures. To illustrate this physical process, we used colored circular magnets designed for whiteboards, connected through paper clips. Several protein structures were then 3D-printed, using both standard and flexible materials. Protein unfolding under force was then investigated by adding slotted weights to a setup consisting of three experiments: a simple spring, a spring in series with a sealed syringe (representing a dashpot), and a spring in series with a printed protein structure. All of the experiments shown here were done as part of the event, organized by the University of Wisconsin─Milwaukee. The approach presented here complements the use of other techniques to learn about protein folding and constitutes a novel way to explain how mechanical unfolding in vivo relates to a gain-of-function.