In a survey of biochemistry laboratory course for non-majors, students isolate the blue-colored protein phycocyanin by grinding Spirulina powder, extracting the protein into 50 mM phosphate buffer at pH 7 and filtering it by gravity through filter paper.  After isolating phycocyanin, students investigate what denatures it by visually observing color changes.  To quantitatively measure the changes in absorbance and fluorescence upon denaturation, phycocyanin solutions will be monitored using the MeasureNet Model MDBC-138 dual-beam colorimeter.  The MeasureNet electronic data collection system consists of a central computer connected to a network of 15 student workstations.  Each workstation (outfitted with various probeware) records real-time data that can be saved and uploaded to a web-based storage site accessible to the student from anywhere.

Monitoring protein denaturation using electronic data collection in a non-majors biochemistry laboratory course

246th National Meeting (2013)

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