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Purification and characterization of enzymes from yeast: An extended undergraduate laboratory sequence for large classes
Author(s) -
Johanson Kelly E.,
Watt Terry J.,
McIntyre Neil R.,
Thompson Marleesa
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
biochemistry and molecular biology education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.34
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 1539-3429
pISSN - 1470-8175
DOI - 10.1002/bmb.20704
Subject(s) - yeast , sequence (biology) , enzyme , computational biology , characterization (materials science) , sequence analysis , biochemistry , biology , nanotechnology , materials science , gene
Providing a project‐based experience in an undergraduate biochemistry laboratory class can be complex with large class sizes and limited resources. We have designed a 6‐week curriculum during which students purify and characterize the enzymes invertase and phosphatase from bakers yeast. Purification is performed in two stages via ethanol precipitation and anion exchange chromatography, and students perform both direct and coupled enzyme assays. By completion of the experimental series, students are able to identify which enzymes they have purified and have obtained kinetic parameters for one. This experimental series requires minimal instructor preparation time, is cost effective, and works with multiple sections of large groups of students. Students participating in this sequence showed increases in conceptual understanding of biochemical concepts as measured through in‐class assessments and anonymous surveys. © 2013 by The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 41(4):251–261, 2013