To integrate research into the teaching of glycoproteins, the story of discovering hydrogen-potassium ATPase (HK-ATPase) [beta] subunit is presented in a way covering all the important teaching points. The interaction between the HK-ATPase [alpha] subunit and a glycoprotein of 60-80 kDa was demonstrated to support the existence of the [beta] subunit. On revealing the strategies and experimental designs of this discovery, the knowledge of glycoproteins is delivered. The purpose of this effort was to facilitate the teaching of scientific thinking in the science classroom, to make the biochemistry classroom a more interesting place, and to attract uncertain minds into the career of biochemistry research. (Contains 1 footnote, 1 table, and 5 figures.)