DESIGNING MOLECULES

OUR CHALLENGE We were chosen to design a

molecule that affect how enzyme creatine kinase works.

The enzyme catalyses the breakdown of phosphocreatine in the muscles. By affecting how the enzyme works, we may help patients with facial paralysis.

Phosphocreatine

PHOSPHOCREATINE

Can anaerobically donate a phosphate group to ADP to form ATP during the first 2 to 7 seconds following an intense muscular or neuronal effort.

Excess ATP can be used during a period of low effort to convert creatine to phosphocreatine. The reversible phosphorylation of creatine is catalyzed by creatine kinases.

Is a molecule that serves as a rapidly mobilizable reserve of high-energy phosphates in skeletal muscle and the brain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCmNQQWlrc0

A facial paralysis is caused by a high concentration of

creatine kinase which break down a lot of

phosphocreatine, which helps the muscles work.

The presence of creatine kinase in blood plasma is indicative of tissue damage and is used in the diagnosis of myocardial infarction.

CREATINE KINASE There are three places where three types of

creatine kinase are produced by the body:

Skeletal Muscle

Heart

Brain

Made by translation in the cytoplasm.

Our product is an inhibitor that binds to the enzyme, creatine kinase, to decrease its activity, which is the breakdown of phosphocreatine molecules.

OUR PRODUCT:

It is a competitive inhibitor, this means that the substrate and inhibitor cannot bind to the enzyme at the same time. The inhibitor has an affinity for the active site of creatine kinase where the substrate, phosphocreatine also binds. So if the inhibitor attaches to the enzyme, the enzyme will not break down molecules of phosphocreatine for one day. That´s why the person will have to take one pill per day.

TRANSPORT THROUGHT CELL MEMBRANE

1) The inhibitor will cross through the cell membrane to reach the cytoplasm where creatine kinase is made.

2) It will be transported by facilitated diffusion as no energy is needed, down a concentration gradient. It will cross by a channel protein as is it a big molecule to pass directly through the cell membrane.

3) When the inhibitor gets in contact with the carrier, it will attach to the carrier change the shape/configuration of the carrier. Once it reaches the other side, it is released into the cell where it can bind

to creatine kinase.

PROPERTIES OF THE PRODUCT

Big enough as to pass directly through the cell membrane, but small enough in order to pass through the protein channel.

Is soluble in water

It doesn’t contain a lipid coat, as it has to bind to creatine kinase. That´s why it is transported by facilitated diffusion.

THE PRODUCT

As the creatine kinase is made by translation in the cytoplasm in the free ribosomes, when the product gets to the cell it will act in the free ribosomes, as soon as creatine kinase is made.

The name of the product is PARALSTOP and it is named like that as our goal is to stop facial paralysis with an inhibitor that wouldn’t allow the breakdown of phosphocreatine.

Macarena Rubio Camila Müller