Group:SMART:Tangible Models of Cdc42 Interacting With Intersectin: Difference between revisions

=='''<font color = 'red'>A Lincoln HS SMART Team Telling a Molecular Story</font><font color = 'black'></font>'''==

='''<font color = 'black'>Abstract for Our Project</font>'''=

==<font color = 'blue'>Abstract</font>==

:Information transfer within the cell relies upon signaling pathways made up of interacting proteins. Rho-family [[GTPase]]s are GTP-binding proteins, which function as molecular switches initially in the "off" state. Interactions with activators turn these GTPases "on" and they then interact with other proteins, leading to a variety of cellular behaviors such as directed movement and changes in cell shape.

==<font color = 'blue'>Cell Signaling and Cell Movement</font>==

[[Image:Filopodia.jpg|left|250px]]

:[[Cell signaling]] is how cells transmit information from the outside environment to inside the cell as well as how cells propagate messages within the cell. Transmembrane receptors at the cell surface detect environmental changes and pass the information on to intracellular signaling proteins. Proteins that make up signaling pathways pass along messages by interacting with each other.

==<font color = 'blue'>Why build a model?</font>==

:A 3-dimensional model generated by the polymer printing technology at the Center for BioMolecular Modeling greatly enhances our ability to visualize and explore Cdc42 and its interaction with Intersectin. The complex structures and shapes of these molecules can be appreciated more fully through seeing and touching a physical model. A tangible model can not only aid us in summarizing what we know but can also inspire us and other scientists to ask new questions and come up with new hypotheses about these molecules.

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='''<font color = 'black'>Cdc42: The GTPase</font>'''=

[[Image:GDP to GTP.jpg|right|250px]]

:<scene name='SMART_Lincoln_2009/Complex_intersectin_and_cdc42/1'>Cdc42/Intersectin Complex.</scene> The orientation of Alanine 59 is the highlight of Cdc42 activation by Intersectin. Alanine 59 causes the displacement of the Mg++ ion which in turn releases GDP from Cdc42’s binding pocket. Cdc42 is then able to accept a new nucleotide, specifically GTP, to become activated.