Transition to a Course‐based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE)

Abstract

It will always remain a goal of an undergraduate biochemistry laboratory course to engage students hands‐on in a wide range of biochemistry laboratory experiences. In 2006, our research group initiated a project for in silico prediction of enzyme function based only on the 3D coordinates of the more than 3800 proteins “of unknown function” in the Protein Data Bank (PDB), many of which resulted from the Protein Structure Initiative. Students have used the ProMOL plugin to the PyMOL molecular graphics environment along with BLAST, Pfam, and Dali to predict protein functions. As young scientists, these undergraduate research students wanted to see if their predictions were correct and so they developed an approach for in vitro testing of predicted enzyme function that included literature exploration, selection of a suitable assay and the search for commercially available substrates. Over the past two years, a team of faculty members from seven different campuses (California Polytechnic San Luis Obispo, Hope College, Oral Roberts University, Rochester Institute of Technology, St. Mary's University, and Ursinus College) have transferred this approach to the undergraduate biochemistry teaching lab as a Course‐based Undergraduate Research Experience. A series of ten course modules and eight instructional videos have been created (www.promol.org/home/basil‐modules‐1) and the group is now expanding these resources, creating assessments and evaluating how this approach helps student to grow as scientists. The focus of this presentation will be the logistical implications of this transition on campuses that have different cultures, expectations, schedules and student populations.Support or Funding InformationThis project is supported by NSF IUSE 1503811.