Rubisco Part II

Left to right, top to bottom, substrate appears in each picture:

a. Alpha-Beta Barrel
b. Half of the Holoenzyme (eight of the 16 subunits)
c. Alpha helices portion of the A-B barrel
d. Beta sheet portion of the A-B barrel
e. Ribbon model of the large subunit
f. Spacefilling model of the large subunit

I hope half of my faithful viewers can understand half of what is shown above. It should be noted that plant rubisco is a huge enzyme that has eight large subunits and eight small subunits. Most of these pictures focus on the structure holding the active site, the alpha-beta barrel. The final picture, large subunit in spacefilling model, is the most accurate representation of the enzyme. The entire holoenzyme (16 subunits) in a spacefilling model would be a square blob.

The Contest:

I am please to announce that every entry was awarded a prize. The results are below.

Disqualified Entry Winner*: Brooke**
Immediate Family Winner: Kelby
Funniest Entry Winner: Megan
Most Creative Winner: Alan
Correct Answer Winner: Luke
* Entries were disqualified if the poll question was unanswered.
** Brooke is still a winner!!

I will be contacting the winners soon to award their prizes. Thanks to all who played and all who Read!

My Roommate That I Never Had

So this past weekend I went to Taylor for the huge invite. It was great; had a hilarious time on the road, ran around someone's yard looking for random people I did not know, saw lots of friends from Indiana, and heard encouraging exhortation for fellowship, daily devotion, and purity.

However, Saturday night was not cool. On the way to Joe’s house, my alternator light came on. It was like way late and we decided the best thing to do was sleep. Long story short…over the noon hour, we picked up an alternator and after church we went out and changed it. I should say Ashley Esslinger changed it.

This is a huge THANKS to Ash for his servant heart and willing hands!!

PS. I was going to be Ash’s roommate except he received this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to move to Illinois. Congratulations Ash!

Last Man Standing

Last night was a weird, fun, and interesting evening.

It started with a call, saying I did not need to help with harvesting. So I spent the afternoon preparing for supper and cleaning and organizing and picking up a roommate in distress (ok, just great need). As a consequence, I prepared way too much food for supper (not a bad thing) and overwhelmed everyone with a very full plate. Note to self: KISS. Regardless, Apt. 2 came over for supper and we had some good eats and conversation. As we were cleaning up, Tommie and I spontaneously started a game of chess. It was an all out, no holds, think-your-brain-out game. I stole it from him, but gave it back when I moved my created queen into range of Tommie’s two, yes TWO, pieces. It ended as the picture shows. Both kings standing—alone.

I owe Tif an apology for not talking with her when she stopped by—during the chess game. I also cannot figure the Kansas people fascination with phones and shunning f2f conversations. At Purdue, the best way to talk with someone is to run (of course, you always run down the halls of ParkPlace) to someone’s door, knock, and enter when they call out “Come In.” In Kansas, you must knock really hard and long. Then they MIGHT respond, most likely wanting to know who you are. After all this, you still might get a “don’t come in.” Then, when they want to get a hold of you, ring, ring ,ring. They expect to talk with you when they have taken just the effort to find your name deep in their phonebook. What happens if you are outside when they call?? Today, the thing I remember most about Purdue is a-bit-trashy-and-rundown-but-now-remodeled 230 Marsteller with the PYG inside.

:) *happy memories* :)

I still had fun in Kansas last night. After the chess game and dishes, I went with Tommie and Aaron to the cool memorial stadium. We ran around the track and played some 1on1on1 football. It was neat.

PS. The contest about rubisco is still open!! Yes, Luke will receive the correct answer prize—he will even get a bonus for saying “starting point of the food chain”. The two prizes remaining are much cooler and hotly disputed. CLICK HERE!!!

Rubisco

So, yaa, about that blog thing. I have been a bit negligent lately and owe all my devout fans a big “APOLOGY” !! (sorry mom :(

What you ask? What kept me so busy and distracted that I stopped my hourly checkup on drudge and my daily circuit of blogs?

Simple. RUBISCO. Or as it is call by scientific journals around the globe, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase / oxygenase. To let you feel a more intimate bond (pun: ha, ha) with this molecule, a picture is posted.

The Green ball represents an Mg++ ion and is the reaction center of this molecule. The round balls around it are the substrates (stuff used to make stuff) and the "pipe screen saver" structure behind the green ball is rubisco. This is a super close-up shot of the protein—the equivalent of staring deep into someone’s eyes (more like mouth but gag me).

I have been working on a paper describing the function and structure of this protein. Since I turned it in today, I am free to spend my time in productive manners.

ANNOUNCMENT: my first blog poll and contest:
Poll: Would you honestly like to see more shots of rubisco?
Contest: What does rubisco do?

Catch: For your contest entry to be valid, you must answer both the poll and contest.

There will be prizes for:
First Correct Answer
Funniest
Most Creative

Good Luck!!
Kersh <><

Home

Labor Day Weekend was a great time to spend in the outdoors (both underwater and above it in the canoe) and enjoy the travelers from B-town. I also saw my roommate that I never had. It was a disappointment to have Ash leave for Illinois the week before I moved to Manhattan. But I am really happy for him and his opportunities out East.

Last weekend brought my future into sharper focus. I’m 12 hours from my home(town). From here on out, I’ll be home about 4 times a year. Period. Just tonight my sis asked if I will be coming home for Thanksgiving—like I have an option!! Thanksgiving is not for another 2 ½ months. Until then I’m stuck in a state that has red brick roads (at least they’re not yellow!) maybe not stuck, but definitely committed for a long time to come. I Love You, Mom!!

PS. Come see the red brick roads in downtown Manhattan