ERIC Number: EJ941074
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011-Aug
Pages: 5
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0021-9584
EISSN: N/A
Ribose 5-Phosphate Isomerase Investigations for the Undergraduate Biochemistry Laboratory
Jewett, Kathy; Sandwick, Roger K.
Journal of Chemical Education, v88 n8 p1170-1174 Aug 2011
The enzyme ribose 5-phosphate isomerase (RpiA) has many features that make it attractive as a focal point of a semester-long, advanced biochemistry laboratory for undergraduate students. The protein can easily and inexpensively be isolated from spinach using traditional purification techniques. Characterization of RpiA enzyme activity can be assessed using a timed Dische assay or a relatively simple A[subscript 290] kinetic assay. Cloning of the enzyme from "Escherichia coli" works well as a molecular biology exercise to give students experiences in such techniques as polymerase chain reaction, restriction mapping, plasmid purifications, and cell transformations. The use of a common theme throughout the semester more appropriately models the research process and gives the student a better understanding of the procedures included in the pedagogy. (Contains 2 tables and 1 figure.)
Descriptors: Undergraduate Students, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, College Science, Science Instruction, Science Laboratories, Scientific Principles, Cytology, Teaching Methods, Concept Formation
Division of Chemical Education, Inc and ACS Publications Division of the American Chemical Society. 1155 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 800-227-5558; Tel: 202-872-4600; e-mail: eic@jce.acs.org; Web site: http://pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A