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Hemoglobin and its Function in 3D

Publication at Faculty of Science |
2020

Abstract

Proteins are one of the basic groups of macromolecules which are part of all cells (and viruses) and play crucial roles in them. Visualization of protein structure and its changes in 2D can be a challenge.

Another challenge for students is in connecting knowledge about different levels such as DNA - protein structure - phenotype. Therefore, it is advisable to seek out options on how to visualize structures and actions which are too small to be observed directly.

In this paper, we present an interactive three-dimensional online encyclopedia of (mainly) protein, nucleic acid and other macromolecular structures, Proteopedia (http://www.proteopedia.org). Proteopedia contains a great deal of information, e.g., visualization of protein structures which can be used while teaching biology or science.

As with Wikipedia, registered users can create content. A description of creating mutations from existing Proteopedia sites in other languages is a part of the presented paper.

A tutorial "How do we get the oxygen we breathe" was translated as a first example from the Czech version of the Proteopedia site. This tutorial shows the relationship between protein structure and its function, as well as the influence of a single nucleotide DNA mutation on both protein structure and function causing sickle cell anemia.