My Head +

Ah yes.  Spring break and not a second too soon.

All that drawing of chymotrypsin's mechanism for days upon days, along with the nucleotides/sides and sugars; did not go entirely for naught, it helped me figure out where the covalent bonding occurred in the transitional intermediate and at which phase.  (Phase 1, I believe, right where the serine oxygen attacks the carbonyl amide to create a complex which then makes the nitrogen attack the hydrogen on the histidine, releasing the amino product from phase one, setting up the water displacement of the amino product, and round two of the enzyme mechanism to give the final product: a carboxylate).

Great :)

Now... about those "other" questions.  My head, at 2.25 hours was swimming.  "THINK, Ad2b," my head screamed inside.  "THINK!"  At the end, it felt like my head was in the vise pictured above.  "Where's my diet coke?  Chocolate?  Tea leaves?  Tarot cards?  Anything?!?!?!"  :D

Oh and I did.  Think, that is.

I drew lovely diagrams, perfect G-C with it's three H-bonds in a perfectly appropriate separation of the sugars creating the major and minor grooves... perfect little places for proteins to sneak in and bind.  My phosphatidyl serine was pretty, didn't have color pencils with me or I'd have given "Serina" the pink; but I think it's supposed to have a ketone off the end carbon, prior to the phosphate group.  I drew, erased, redrew, erased, and... left.

Does ATP get through a lipid bi-layer without an aquaporin?  I don't think so.  I think it needs to be chopped up into ADP and the electron transport in order to recycle and give us another boost.  I said, "F" for false.  Wouldn't that fatty head get caught in the phosphate heads of the bi-layer and then get stuck?

So, another test down.  The take home for biology is due the week after spring break. Start up for next biochem exam starts... later.  Much, much later.  I love the class, the professor is awesome, and somehow, I will figure out how to get an A.  Somehow.

Make it a great day - I'm off to enjoy a night with no homework, no mechanisms, no chemicals, no snake venom (ACE inhibitors - who knew something so frightening could be so helpful!)

Note: is it strange for everyone else by this point in pre-med that almost every single word you type has to be right-clicked, "Add To Dictionary" ???  lol

AWESOME Organization

Not sure how prolific they are in the US; hopefully, the group is becoming more well known and acquiring better, more vocalized advocates. As the population of America (and the world) continues to age, our elderly are living longer with, or without, additional help.

This organization:  Store To Door

helps the elderly stay more independent for a longer period of time by bringing groceries.  Beyond the immediate implications of cooking one's own food (yeay!), there is plausibly the indirect implication of: owning their home for longer, staying out of nursing homes or assisted living for a longer period of time, and keeping their finances in line (nothing wrong with the care facilities but truly, if one has a choice where to spend money - wouldn't we ALL choose our own home over living elsewhere?) .  Assisted living and nursing homes have their place, there is no doubt, but they are also expensive!

Store to Door is a non-profit organization.  First hearing about them a few years ago, I was not sure who or what they represented.  Tonight, I noticed one of my closest friends' family is listed (believe it or not, I do have them!!!).  The family is pretty picky about who they support, who they donate to, and who they endorse.  Knowing them for over 20 years, the integrity and compassion for others - in words and actions - I can't help but believe this organization is top notch.

My parents are healthy and for that, I'm very thankful.  The past year with my dad has been tumultuous, full of trepidation, and at the end, filled with hope.  During the entire time he was in the hospital (almost 310 days), my mother was able to fend for herself and cook; or eat hospital food (and fend for herself there too!).  I wondered then what would she do (or he do) if they were unable to grocery shop - even if it was the fact that carrying groceries up the stairs or down the hallway of their condo building would be too strenuous.  Thankfully, I know if that day comes there might be help nearby.

I'd encourage us all to think about ways we can help our aging population.  Many of you who read this already do - in practicing medicine.  And maybe, just one or two of you, might find this organization and help there too!

Make it a great day ~

Back to chymotrypsin mechanism drawing (easy actually) and beta-lactamase inhibitors for me!

Blessings In Disguise

The contract was a poor fit for many reasons primarily, the manager was not yet ready to assume directorship until I was already there.  Now, she'd like the spot.

Frankly, she deserves it!

She is likeable, knowledgeable, friendly, helpful, supportive, honest... fabulous.  I wish her nothing but absolute success as she takes on the role.

It just means I have to scramble to find something for me.  A better fit, a more amenable solution for all.  While it would have been nice to have this known before I started, at least it gave me 6 weeks of a contract and time to get settled a bit more on the path.  While I will be scrambling (again) for a contract, and hoping something comes up that works well, I will be cheering for her in her new role.

And honestly, a bad fit never bodes well for school... ever.  This will work out to be a win-win situation!!

It has to.  Blessings come in many forms, this is but yet, another one.

YouTube Fun :D

Editing this to be

"They put a proton on S195
Where the charge was once unoccupied
Before that there was a lonely, little O
On the site...

Chy-mo-trypsin
All the protons want to be with you
Chy-mo-trypsin
Our digestion requires ewww"

Yep, Imma geek; thinking of fun ways to remember Chymotrypsin's mechanism...lyrics to come soon!

Spring break is ahead - this could be a funny, geeky, thing to do with "all" my time.

About That "F"

It was noticed by the professor.  Apparently, he too knows the grade is a complete aberration for me.  Yesterday while studying for the upcoming exam (and trying to destress from a job that is a really bad fit):

"Ad2b, I think you should make time to see me before the next exam.  I have these times available. Please let me know which one you'd like."

Hm.  I AM the naughty child!!!  Nothing has changed :)  My desk is not outside the doorway but that same feeling of "oh god, I'm a " ...

So, I'm seeing him after class, before review session #1 (and attending that as well as the review session #2).

Study focus for today:

1)  Enzyme mechanics for serine proteases specifically, chymotrypsin
2)  Enzyme mechanics for other proteases studied, specifically: aspartic and ....
3)  Drawing of molecules and knowing their properties: sugars, nucleic acids
4)  Write different types of enzyme inhibition: competitive, non-competitive
5)  Draw the amino acids again along with their properties
6)  Understand how to estimate Michaelis-Menten curves and its inverse LB; not the math behind it but how to estimate the answer given data

If I can get through that today (easy??) then I can focus the remainder of the time on solidifying my knowledge before the exam next TH.

That "F" has forced me to hunker down, much like I did in ochem.

I just didn't want to "taste" that again and surely, HATE disappointing the professor.