The RCSB’s Protein Data Bank is a database featuring thousands of experimentally-derived protein
structures. This open access resource enables users to explore and visualize the 3-D structures and other
features of proteins.
For this assignment, please follow the instructions below and submit your answer in a Word or PDF
document through Blackboard.
1. Read the featured page : “Molecule of the Month” https://pdb101.rcsb.org/motm/14 . What is
the molecule in question and what is its physiological function?
2. Explain one structural feature that is important for that function.
3. Open the Structure Summary page here:
http://www.rcsb.org/pdb/explore/explore.do?structureId=4ins
4. What is the source species (organism) of this structure and in what year was the structure
solved?
5. Open the 3-D structure of this protein by clicking either on the “3D View” tab in top part of the
page, or on the “Structure” link, underneath the 3-D model image titled Biological Assembly 1,
and navigate to the right bottom part of the page to “Select a different viewer” drop down
menu and pick “Jsmol (Javascript)”
6. View the polymer chains shown to contain helical ribbons (in magenta), arrows (in golden
yellow) and coil-like regions (white/grey). How many polypeptide chains are in this structure?
7. Name three “styles” in the Select Options dropdown that are well suited to determine the
answer to #6?
8. Describe the secondary structures of each of the chains in terms of the helical, arrow-like or
coiled regions in the chain.
9. In “Select a different viewer” go back to Mol* (Javascript) and make one click somewhere on the
structure. You should see additional features appear. Mousing over them allows you to get
some details. What type of chemical bond do you see most frequently?
10. What role(s) do you think these bonds play in the structure?