부산대학교 도서관

The MSOE SMART (Students Modeling A Research Topic) Team Program enables students to experience the "real world" of science through a partnership between middle and high school students and a research mentor. Together, they explore a molecular topic and design and build a physical model of a biomolecule. The UNC Charlotte Pre-College Program SMART team has designed and produced accurate three-dimensional physical models of the ligand binding domain and the DNA binding domain of the androgen receptor. These androgen receptor proteins, members of the activated class I steroid receptors, are able to bind to anabolic steroids in order to increase production of muscle mass, which are being exploited in order to increase athletic performance. The ligand, tetrahydrogestrinone (THG), an almost undetectable steroid, binds to the androgen receptor by binding to four sidechains (Gln711, Asn705, Thr877, and Arg752) through Van der Waals forces. This receptor/ligand complex then translocates to the nucleus, binds to the DNA and initiates transcription to produce new actin and myosin protein filaments, thus leading to an increase in muscle mass and strength. These models can be used in an educational setting in order to promote the understanding of androgen receptors. Additionally, these models can be used to understand the larger topic of gene regulation. Supported by a grant from NIH-NCRR-SEPA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]