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

Chemistry Commons

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Apr 24th, 1:00 PM Apr 24th, 2:00 PM

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.

 

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