title: Using biocatalysis to integrate organic chemistry into a molecular biology laboratory course.
abstract: Current cutting-edge biomedical investigation requires that the researcher have an operational understanding of several diverse disciplines. Biocatalysis is a field of science that operates at the crossroads of organic chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, and molecular biology, and provides an excellent model for interdisciplinary research. We have developed an inquiry-based module that uses the mutagenesis of the yeast reductase, YDL124w, to study the bioorganic synthesis of the taxol side-chain, a pharmacologically important molecule. Using related structures, students identify regions they think will affect enzyme stereoselective, design and generate site-specific mutants, and then characterize the effect of these changes on enzyme activity. This laboratory activity gives our students experience, working in a scientific discipline outside of biology and exposes them to techniques and equipment they do not normally work with in a molecular biology course. These inter-disciplinary experiences not only show the relevance of other sciences to biology, but also give our students the ability to communicate more effectively with scientists outside their discipline.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Armstrong Atlantic State University, Savannah, Georgia 31419, USA.
authors.forename: Mande
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beers
authors.forename: Crystal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Archer
authors.forename: Brent D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Feske
authors.forename: Scott C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Mateer
mesh_terms: D055162:Biocatalysis; D002625:Chemistry, Organic / Q000193:education*; D003479:Curriculum; D008967:Molecular Biology / Q000193:education*; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010088:Oxidoreductases