The liftoff, a culmination of nearly a year of intensive work and research by ten students at the school, will be part of the first long-duration science experiment conducted on the International Space Station. The students' samples consist of protein crystal experiments, one of the best ways scientists have to study the molecular structure of proteins. By studying the structure, scientists can design medications that can interact with the protein. The program is part of a science investigation by Dr. Alexander McPherson, a molecular biologist at the University of California, Irvine, under contract with the Microgravity Biotechnology Office at Marshall Space Flight Center.
Scientists are particularly interested in proteins associated with diseases.
The shape of the protein is much like the shape inside a lock. Scientists want to know this shape exactly, in order to design a chemical drug that fits this structure like a key fits a lock. Experiments conducted in space hope to take advantage of microgravity and produce better crystals. Better crystals would lead to better data and more accurate keys. We know they are learning from us, but we also value the scientific discoveries they are seeking, and the creative new ideas they bring to the process.