Background
Science is a process of applying and building on the findingsof others, so one of the major tasks of any scientist is to communicate their work to their colleagues. Scientific research in medicine, nutrition, agriculture and many other related fields relies on the sharing of new discoveries and insights. Scientific research is reported in written form in specialist journal articles, and at scientific meetings where scientists gather to hear oral presentations on the latest developments. New ideas and new explanations grow out of the work of many individual scientists who communicate and discuss their work together in these ways.
This assessment task will provide you with an opportunity to develop your research and inquiry skills and to refine your scienwrtitiingfskiillcs.
Proteins are the most prevalent macromolecules in biological systems. They are extraordinarily
diverse in terms of size, structure and biological function, and they participate in the majority of cellular processes including metabolism, energy production, transport, storage, cell signalling, defence and the maintenance of cell structure.
The function of a protein invariably requires some form of interaction with another molecule, and the molecule that interacts with and is bound by the protein is referred to by biochemists as a ‘ligand’.
Biochemists have a broad definition of the term ‘ligand’ that can include any molecule that forms a functional complex with a protein to serve a useful biological role, a small ion or chemical, or even a large ligand like another macromolecule (eg. a sugar/carbohydrate,a lipid, another protein, or even a molecule of DNA or RNA).
The task
For this assignment you are asked to investigate the interaction between a particular protein and its
ligand to learn how the complex formed carries out a useful biological function. You are expected to delve into the interaction at the molecular level, ideally to describe exactly which amino
residue(s) of the protein are directly involved in forming the protein-ligand complex, i.e. to explain how the interaction occurs.
You are free to investigate a protein-ligand interaction of your own choosing and that you find
interesting. To help you, potential topics appear in the choice system on the LMS.
You will research the scientific literature to gather information about the protein, its ligand and the
interaction between them, and then use this information to write a 1200-word report on the major
features of the protein-ligand complex and its biological function.
This assessment task is to be completed individually and will contribute 40% to your overall mark for this subject. Your written report will be assessed using the marking rubric provided.
