TY - JOUR
T1 - Using yeast to determine the functional consequences of mutations in the human p53 tumor suppressor gene
T2 - An introductory course-based undergraduate research experience in molecular and cell biology
AU - Hekmat-Scafe, Daria S.
AU - Brownell, Sara
AU - Seawell, Patricia Chandler
AU - Malladi, Shyamala
AU - Imam, Jamie F Conklin
AU - Singla, Veena
AU - Bradon, Nicole
AU - Cyert, Martha S.
AU - Stearns, Tim
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
PY - 2017/3/1
Y1 - 2017/3/1
N2 - The opportunity to engage in scientific research is an important, but often neglected, component of undergraduate training in biology. We describe the curriculum for an innovative, course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) appropriate for a large, introductory cell and molecular biology laboratory class that leverages students′ high level of interest in cancer. The course is highly collaborative and emphasizes the analysis and interpretation of original scientific data. During the course, students work in teams to characterize a collection of mutations in the human p53 tumor suppressor gene via expression and analysis in yeast. Initially, student pairs use both qualitative and quantitative assays to assess the ability of their p53 mutant to activate expression of reporter genes, and they localize their mutation within the p53 structure. Through facilitated discussion, students suggest possible molecular explanations for the transactivation defects displayed by their p53 mutants and propose experiments to test these hypotheses that they execute during the second part of the course. They use a western blot to determine whether mutant p53 levels are reduced, a DNA-binding assay to test whether recognition of any of three p53 target sequences is compromised, and fluorescence microscopy to assay nuclear localization. Students studying the same p53 mutant periodically convene to discuss and interpret their combined data. The course culminates in a poster session during which students present their findings to peers, instructors, and the greater biosciences community. Based on our experience, we provide recommendations for the development of similar large introductory lab courses.
AB - The opportunity to engage in scientific research is an important, but often neglected, component of undergraduate training in biology. We describe the curriculum for an innovative, course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) appropriate for a large, introductory cell and molecular biology laboratory class that leverages students′ high level of interest in cancer. The course is highly collaborative and emphasizes the analysis and interpretation of original scientific data. During the course, students work in teams to characterize a collection of mutations in the human p53 tumor suppressor gene via expression and analysis in yeast. Initially, student pairs use both qualitative and quantitative assays to assess the ability of their p53 mutant to activate expression of reporter genes, and they localize their mutation within the p53 structure. Through facilitated discussion, students suggest possible molecular explanations for the transactivation defects displayed by their p53 mutants and propose experiments to test these hypotheses that they execute during the second part of the course. They use a western blot to determine whether mutant p53 levels are reduced, a DNA-binding assay to test whether recognition of any of three p53 target sequences is compromised, and fluorescence microscopy to assay nuclear localization. Students studying the same p53 mutant periodically convene to discuss and interpret their combined data. The course culminates in a poster session during which students present their findings to peers, instructors, and the greater biosciences community. Based on our experience, we provide recommendations for the development of similar large introductory lab courses.
KW - CURE
KW - curriculum
KW - laboratory
KW - p53
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85006064691&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85006064691&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/bmb.21024
DO - 10.1002/bmb.21024
M3 - Article
C2 - 27873457
AN - SCOPUS:85006064691
SN - 1470-8175
VL - 45
SP - 161
EP - 178
JO - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education
JF - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education
IS - 2
ER -