Download The Path of a Protein Through The Cell Project BACKGOUND

The Path of a Protein Through The Cell Project
BACKGOUND INFORMATION:
Insulin is a protein made of two polypeptide chains 21 and 30 amino acids long.
Insulin is made in cells of the pancreas known as Beta cells. Beta cells have
embedded in their membranes protein glucose receptor molecules. When these Beta
cell protein receptors detect rising levels of glucose in the blood they send a signal
into the cell and into the nucleus to signal the genes in The DNA that are involved to
be transcribed. From the DNA instructions, Beta cells make and secrete Insulin,
which circulates to other cells through the blood. Insulin stimulates cells to take in
glucose and convert it into glycogen, particularly in muscle and liver cells. Insulin
triggers these effects by binding to Insulin receptor proteins on muscle and liver cell
plasma membranes.
PROJECT:
1. On a poster you are to diagram the entire process of a Beta cell making the insulin
protein and secreting it out of the cell.
2. On separate sheet of paper is a written explanation of the process.
3. You must start with the Beta cell receiving a signal and include the following:
a. Show gene or genes along DNA that need to be transcribed with their
promoter sequence.
b. Show gene or genes being transcribed
c. Show how the instructions for making insulin are brought to structures
responsible for making proteins to be secreted out of cell.
d. Assume there are not enough protein factories in cell to make enough
insulin. Indicate how cell can add more protein factories to accomplish job.
e. Show the structure where the polypeptides fold into proteins and show the
folding of the polypeptides into insulin.
f. Show how the product “e” moves to another organelle to prepare for
secretion out of the cell.
4. The following structures should be involved in the process
a. Cell membrane with receptor protein
b. Glucose
c. Nucleus with DNA
d. Nucleolus
e. Endoplasmic reticulum and type
f. Ribosomes
g. Vesicle
h. Mitochondria
i. Cytoskeleton
j. Golgi apparatus
k. Nuclear envelope
5. The following processes should be involved
a. Transcription
b. Translation
c. Protein folding
d. Extra credit-mRNA processing
e. Extra credit-Signal transduction (not learned-requires research)