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Biochemistry

Introduction

The research lifecycles has many ebbs and flows. A topic might gain a lot of scholarly attention for a time, fade out of popularity, then might be revived by a team of researchers several decades later. In the case of the enzymes that you all will be researching this semester, this will likely be the case! Many of the malate dehydrogenases that you all are exploring were first introduced in the literature in the 1960-1970s. This leaves us with an interesting twofold challenge: 

  1. Discovering what research was conducted, either in the past or in the present
  2. If limited (or no) research has been conducted, then how do modifications to the enzyme affect structures, generally speaking. 

In short, you will do your best to find relevant information sources, but it is okay to come up "empty handed." Not finding many (or any) sources still provides information about your topic-- namely where there is a gap in the literature. 

If this feels too abstract consider this allegorical example: Imagine searching for information like looking at an optical illusion. If you head into research expecting to see one thing, and one thing only, you might miss out on other potential revelations that are more subtle or hidden. For example, if you are told that this image is a rabbit, you will likely struggle to see the duck. Likewise, if you are only looking for scholarly, peer-reviewed sources, you might miss out on other helpful materials. 

Developing a Research Roadmap

We are going to use the PDF below to build a holistic research roadmap for the beginning stages of your research project. Writing things down on paper can go a long way in helping you to develop your research! 

In class, we are going to discuss the following. If you miss the in-class, librarian led workshop, see a peer for notes, or reach out to Prof. Shenk. She is happy to provide a 1-on-1 session for you. 

  • Identifying your research topic 
  • Different source types and their uses 
  • Use reference sources to collect background information 
    • UniProt, BRENDA, etc.
  • Take what you have learned from reference sources to conduct better database searches 
  • Use the Libraries Databases to find relevant resources 
  • Research is a reflective process, so continually update your strategy in order to receive the best results