In this lab activity, students learn to perform carefully controlled experiments to generate protein fragments using a proteolysis enzyme and then analyse the protein fragments by electrophoresis. By analysis of protein fragmentation patterns, i.e. protein fingerprints, students learn about protein sequence, structure, and their conservation. Students resolve a set of three functionally identical protein samples selected from throughout the animal kingdom; including human, bovine and sheep. After generating fingerprints by electrophoresis, students examine the protein fingerprint of each sample to determine the degree of conservation.

• Manipulation of protein samples
• The concept of protein sequence
• Time course dependent experiments
• Use of protein electrophoresis for problem solving tasks

Also required: Protein electrophoresis equipment, incubator, water bath or beaker and thermometer.