Identify a protein, nucleic acid or other biochemically relevant molecule. 

Write one paragraph that briefly describes the molecule (or molecules), their function, composition and importance. Include two or more references.  Journal references, not web sites.  This description can be more historical and an overview- it need not be the latest bleeding edge research.  Introduce us to the topic.  All of these will be visible to the entire class- embedded in this assignment is the idea that you are the educator.  

Search for this protein in the pdb database:  www.rcsb.org (Links to an external site.) and in proteopedia: www.proteopedia.org (Links to an external site.)

Is it listed in either database?  That doesn’t mean you cannot use that protein, but it is useful information moving forward.  If your protein has not been crystallized, it is not as…satisfactory….but you can still use it for this or subsequent assignments.  The final assignment- a writeup on proteopedia- is geared toward structure, so having a pdb makes that part easy.  If there is no structure, we can do homology modeling, but that is trickier and you probably should talk to me about it.  

Upload Word document.