How do we get from DNA to a functional protein and how can the properties of proteins be purposefully changed or new molecules designed? Students sought answers to these questions during two Summer Schools of Protein Engineering, which were held as part of the APBC program at the workplace of the Center for Interdisciplinary Biosciences TIP UPJ\u0160 in Ko\u0161ice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While bachelor students were introduced to the basic methods of molecular biology and protein engineering in the second year of the summer school From DNA to Protein<\/strong>, a follow-up summer school Development and Design of New Molecules<\/strong> was prepared for the first time this year for master’s students. It allowed them to penetrate more advanced methods and try out the procedures used in the development and optimization of proteins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From DNA to Protein: First Steps in Protein Engineering<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ten bachelor students participated in the second year of the Summer School of Protein Engineering \u2013 From DNA to Protein. During one week, they were able to try out what it’s like to work in a protein engineering laboratory and connect their study knowledge with their own experimental work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The professional program and practical exercises were supervised by Mgr. \u013dubo\u0161 Ambro, PhD. and RNDr. Michal Nemergut, PhD.<\/strong>, who were assisted in the laboratory by RNDr. Alexandra Poliakova<\/strong> and RNDr. Ivana Timkov\u00e1, PhD<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The students gradually went through the basic methods of molecular biology – from preparing a PCR reaction to applying and checking samples using agarose gel electrophoresis to cloning. The program also included the purification of fluorescent proteins, green GFP and red RubyRed. Individual experiments allowed the students to follow the path from working with DNA to obtaining the resulting protein.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Development and design of new molecules: from basics to directed evolution<\/p>\n\n\n\n A novelty this year was the follow-up Summer School of Protein Engineering \u2013 Development and design of new molecules, intended for master’s students. Its goal was to expand their knowledge and introduce them to more advanced approaches used in contemporary protein engineering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The main topics were directed evolution and the yeast display method. In the theoretical part, Mgr. M\u00e1ria Tomkov\u00e1, PhD.<\/strong> presented the principles of directed evolution, RNDr. M\u00e1ria Repovsk\u00e1, PhD.<\/strong> presented the technical aspects of yeast display, and RNDr. Martin Menkyna<\/strong> discussed the principles of rational protein design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The theory then continued directly in the laboratory. Under the leadership of M\u00e1ria Tomkov\u00e1 and M\u00e1ria Repovsk\u00e1 and with the help of doctoral student RNDr. Krist\u00edna Fel\u010d\u00edkov\u00e1<\/strong>, the students tried out the preparation of culture media, establishment and re-inoculation of yeast cultures. Using a fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS), they then selected yeast cells that carried the proteins of interest on their surface. In their own experiments, they were able to verify the principles they had previously learned in the theoretical part of the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n