Presenter(s)
Jenna Bolduan and Elizabeth Haumont
Abstract
Superoxide Dismutase 1 (SOD1) is an enzyme that catalyzes the detoxification of reactive oxygen species that cause damage to the body. Mutations of this protein can cause diseases, such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The structures of the SOD1 wild type and two of its deleterious mutations (A4V and L126*) were digitally modeled using the AI program AlphaFold3. Although a literature structure exists for A4V, no experimental structure data has been collected for L126*. The wild type and A4V structures were virtually identical, whereas the wild type and L126* structures had quite different features, with the mutant being smaller and having more protrusions. The wild type and L126* structures had molecular surface models created, which were then 3D printed. Protein structure visualization using AI software modeling and 3D printing can be used to show how protein mutations can cause structural changes, which in turn alter protein function, causing disease.
College
College of Science & Engineering
Department
Chemistry
Campus
Winona
First Advisor/Mentor
Emily Ruff
Start Date
4-24-2025 1:00 PM
End Date
4-24-2025 2:00 PM
Presentation Type
Poster Session
Format of Presentation or Performance
In-Person
Session
2a=1pm-2pm
Poster Number
55 - Updated April 22, 2025
Included in
Modeling SOD1 Enzyme Mutations: Biochemistry II Lab Class Project
Superoxide Dismutase 1 (SOD1) is an enzyme that catalyzes the detoxification of reactive oxygen species that cause damage to the body. Mutations of this protein can cause diseases, such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The structures of the SOD1 wild type and two of its deleterious mutations (A4V and L126*) were digitally modeled using the AI program AlphaFold3. Although a literature structure exists for A4V, no experimental structure data has been collected for L126*. The wild type and A4V structures were virtually identical, whereas the wild type and L126* structures had quite different features, with the mutant being smaller and having more protrusions. The wild type and L126* structures had molecular surface models created, which were then 3D printed. Protein structure visualization using AI software modeling and 3D printing can be used to show how protein mutations can cause structural changes, which in turn alter protein function, causing disease.
