Interesting biochemistry website

http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcbiochem/

BMC Biochemistry is an open access journal that publishes peer-reviewed research articles in all aspects of biochemical processes. There are many journals available under the broad topic of biochemistry including: Cell Communication and Signaling, Cell Division, Nutrition and Metabolism, and Proteome Science.
One interesting article that I looked at in the Nutrion and Metabolism journal was Accuracy of DXA in Estimating Body Composition Changes in Elite Athletes using a Four Compartment Model as a Reference Method. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) provides an affordable and practical assessment of multiple whole body and regional body composition. However, little information is available on the assessment of changes in body composition in top-level athletes using DXA. This study looked at the accuracy of DXA in tracking body composition changes including relative fat mass, absolute fat mass, and fat-free mass in relation to the 4C method of 27 elite judo athletes averaging 22 years old. The data of the study indicated that both at group and individual levels DXA did not present an expected accuracy in tracking changes.
This website also has many other science topics and journals to browse and provides a lot of great free information and studies.

What knowledge have you connected with past knowledge?

So far in the course we have studied the properties of water, amino acids and proteins, proteins as enzymes and enzyme mechanisms. Most everything we have covered I have been taught in other science courses. The importance of hydrogen bonding, R-groups, and structure of molecules was covered in organic chemistry. Lipids, proteins, and amino acids were discussed in biology. So far this semester it has been a review, but it is nice to have a little refresher at the beginning to make sure that we understand the basic concepts before moving on to the more complex topics.

Find a protein using PDB explorer- describe your protein, including what disease state or other real-world application it has.

The protein I investigated was 1A2K, which is a transport nuclear protein. This protein is made up of alpha helices and beta pleated sheets and is composed of 5 subunits. You can find it in the nucleus and in the cell cytoplasm during mitosis. You can find this protein in Ratus norvegicus and Canis lupus familiaris. This protein facilitates protein transport into the nucleus and RNA transport out of the nucleus. It is involved in chromatin condensation and control of cell cycle.