Abstract 1471: Developing a specialized course to provide students with hands-on experience in understanding protein structure and function through protein modeling

Through the Farquhar Honors College (FHC) at Nova Southeastern University (NSU), an education model has been developed, implemented, and oriented towards integrating protein modeling research into students' undergraduate studies. Originally conducted as an independent study course, it has since expanded into an interdisciplinary course co-taught by faculty from the Departments of both Biological Sciences and Chemistry and Physics. The NSF-funded Connecting Researchers, Educators, and STudents program (crestresources.org) and protein modeling workshops (3dmoleculardesigns.com) supported the course's creation. FHC students may register in the course regardless of major, academic level, or previous college-level experience. The course has been offered each Fall semester from 2021-2023. In Fall 2023, 14 students registered for the course: 36% sophomores, 43% juniors, and 21% seniors, represented 5 majors; 43% Biology, 36% Neuroscience and 21% other majors. The class was divided into 5 groups of 3 students each with a focus on diversity across majors and academic experience in each group. Students utilized various protein-based bioinformatics tools including Jmol and the Protein Data Bank (PDB). Six undergraduate peer mentors who previously took this course assisted students with accessing protein modeling tools and the use of protein modeling to tell a molecular story. The coursework was modeled after research lab experiences at the undergraduate and graduate levels. New additions to this course were a scorpio-toxin peer-reviewed article reading and worksheet, preparing students to create a molecular story by reading, and understanding the related article of the protein they selected from the PDB. The students present their progress multiple times throughout the semester and receive feedback from their peers, instructors, and mentors. In Fall 2023 student projects included the molecular stories of the cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonist KNW for asthma treatment, the role of prestin in sound perception among mammals, the binding of tetrodotoxin and saxitoxin to the Nav1.7 voltage-gated sodium channel, Yersinia pestis Type III secretion needle regulation, and the binding residues of naringin to CYP3A4. The students explored primary literature, course materials, and protein modeling tools so they could practice the scientific process, apply it to better understand the molecular mechanisms, and present their model description to others. The final products of this course are a protein model description sheet, poster, oral presentation, protein model Jmol script, and 3D printed product. These products are showcased to other researchers through the NSU library-sponsored website: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/protein_modeling_reports/. Past students have presented their work at regional, national, and international scientific conferences. An altered Research on the Integrated Science Curriculum (RISC) survey was administered to the students at the end of the semester to document student learning gained through this course-based research experience. Students were able to learn to work in a team, gain knowledge about molecular biology, and understand protein modeling through computer applications. This course represents a successful example of a course-based undergraduate research opportunity that can be replicated in a wide variety of institutions and provides research opportunities for many students.