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TASK10 – RATIONAL DRUG DESIGN
AUTHORS
Jacinta Duncan – The Gene Technology Access Centre
DESCRIPTION OF TASK
Using Cn3D, a free web-based tool for viewing the 3-dimensional structures of proteins, students will apply their knowledge of enzymes and protein channels to explore methods for designing therapeutic drugs. Students explore the design of a diet pill; the design of an anti-viral drug to treat influenza; and the isolation and application of cone shell toxins to treat chronic pain.
Link to VCE Biology
Unit 3: Outcome 1
• The chemical nature of the cell -
The structure and functional diversity of proteins
• The nature of biochemical processes -
Enzymes as organic catalysts
• Applications of molecular biology in medicine - Design of drugs
Unit 3: Outcome 2
• Coordination and regulation
Signalling molecules – neurotranmitters
Signal transduction - signals, membrane receptors
BACKGROUND
Teachers should explore protein structure and function with the class prior to this activity using the instructional PowerPoint. The design of three different drugs is featured here so teachers may opt to use one or all of these. In the first two tasks students explore how drugs are targeted to block enzyme action. The third task explores the action of cone shell toxins as competitive inhibitors of ion channel receptors. Suggested time is a single lesson of 45 minutes to complete a single task (this includes an introduction about the protein being targeted). Download Cn3D onto student computers prior to students working through the activity.
MATERIALS
PowerPoint Presentation – Rational Drug Design (save this to your desktop before opening)
Student Worksheet - Teachers copy this for students to use
Teacher notes – Teachers use these to gain some handy hints
Cn3D – Link to download program used to explore protein structure
Cn3D Binary ASN files - amylase, neuraminidase, alpha conotoxin A, alpha conotoxin B, Ion channel with Neurotransmitter, and Ion channel with drug
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