Kinesin and Exocytosis

Overview:

Design a visualization to illustrate the role of the protein kinesin in exocytosis of a secretory material in a directed manner.   In your visualization include cellular organelles which play a role in protein synthesis and exocytosis.

    Scientific Visualization:        Research techniques, Presentations, Concept driven models, 2D and 3D, animation
    Science:                              Biology -     Cells and Cell Processes

NC Scientific and Technical Visualization Objectives:

If this lesson is done as a class with the teacher guiding every step it is a level one project.  If the students are individually or in small groups given a design brief and work relatively independently it is a level 2 project.  Depending on the techniques incorporated it could meet many different level 2 objectives.

  Level II
        2.01 Describe advanced principles and techniques of scientific visualization.
        2.02 Apply advanced principles and techniques of scientific visualization.
        3.02 Apply advanced 2-D area rendering techniques
        4.02 Apply advanced 3-D static modeling techniques
        4.04 Apply advanced 3-D animation techniques
        5.02 Produce an integrated multimedia visualization

NC Biology Goals and Objectives (objectives from 1994 revision):

        5.2 Demonstrate knowledge of current research in biology.
        6.2 Demonstrate knowledge of the cell.
        6.3 Demonstrate knowledge of the chemical processes of life.
 

Tools

 The student should pick appropriate software.  Possible  tools are listed,  the project will depend somewhat on what tools are available to use.
    Power point
    Truespace
    CorelDraw
    Photo microscopy videotape equipment
    Scion Image

Give the students the assignment and have them develop a plan of work.   The teacher will need to adjust the assignment to fit the available equipment, dates, assignment of groups or independent work etc..  A sample plan of work is outlined below to assist the teacher in helping the students plan or to guide students if this is being done as a level one class project:

Day 1: Develop plan of work.  Check with teacher before continuing work.  Conduct background research on appropriate terms and concepts.  Draw preliminary story board to illustrate directed exocytosis.

Days 2 - 3: Construct a 2-D static model of cellular ultra structure. Include the organelles, which play a role in exocytosis.

Days 4 - 6: Construct a 3-D animation to illustrate directed exocytosis (a vesicle moving along a microtubule).

Day 7: Videotape a living Ameba under high enough magnification (>400 X) to visualize vesicular movement. Using editing software, convert VHS image to a ".avi" file.

Day 8: Scan electron microscope images of subcellular components and save as ".tiff" files. Using Scion Image, color enhance images to illustrate the organelles which play a role in exocytosis.

Day 9 & 10: Put together a PowerPoint presentation.

Day 11.  Give Presentation to selected audience.  Go through Evaluation process.  Students are to write several paragraphs reflecting upon the entire design and development process. Students should point out areas of particular difficulty, successes and failures as well as things they found particularly enjoyable. Students should point out things they would do differently in they were to go through this process again.
 

Look in the Advanced Placement Biology Textbooks under:

1. exocytosis
2. kinesin
3. microtubules
4. cytoskeleton
5. Golgi apparatus
6. Central Dogma Theory of protein synthesis
7. Histamine and its release from mast cells

 

Design a visualization to illustrate the role of the protein kinesin in exocytosis of a secretory material in a directed manner.   In your visualization include cellular organelles which play a role in protein synthesis and exocytosis.  All major cellular components should be discussed and defined. A connection between exocytosis and histamine release should be illustrated.  Students are to include their bibliography as Appendix A at the end of the design brief.  Students are to include their sketches and drawings as Appendix B of the design brief.

You will give a presentation to a selected audience.  Afterwards go through a self -evaluation process.  Write several paragraphs reflecting upon the entire design and development process. Point out areas of particular difficulty, successes and failures as well as things you  found particularly enjoyable. Point out things you  would do differently in you were to go through this process again.

Your project should include the following components:
 

Design a 2-D static model
Design a 3-D static model
Design a 3-D animation
Capture a living image using photomicroscopy and videotape. Using a video capture technique (BUZ card) convert to ".avi" file.
Use image enhancement software (Scion Image) to color enhance electron micrographs to illustrate the cellular components involved in exocytosis.
Design and present a powerpoint presentation explaining the role of Kinesin in  Exocytosis incorporating your models and animation.

Team Members: __________________________

Audience: _______________________________

Available Software: ___________________________
 
 
 

Available Hardware: ____________________________
 

Evaluation Criteria:

        Success will be measured by the following criteria:

        Success will be measured by the following criteria: