Potassium Ion Channel

So....one manifestation of my nerdiness is that I was in a biochemistry class focusing on proteins this past semester.  For extra credit we could make a 3D model of a membrane protein.  Here's what I made:


And here's how to make it:

Protein Monomers (Make 4)

Ch 203

Slip stitch in 2^nd chain from hook and in next 4   (5 slip stitch)

Ch 3, 2 dc in same ch (3 dc in each ch) x7                    (8 with 3 dc in each)

Slip stitch in 8 ch                                                           (8 slip stitch)

Ch 3, 2 dc in same ch (3 dc in each ch) x23                  (24 with 3 dc in each)

Slip stitch in 4 ch                                                           (4 slip stitch)

Ch 3, 2 dc in same ch (3 dc in each ch) x35                  (36 with 3 dc in each)

Slip stitch in 16 ch                                                         (16 slip stitch)

Ch 3, 2 dc in same ch (3 dc in each ch) x23                  (24 with 3 dc in each)

Slip stitch in 20 ch                                                         (20 slip stitch)

Ch 3, 2 dc in same ch (3 dc in each ch) x52                  (51 with 3 dc in each)

Slip stitch in remaining 5 ch                                           (5 slip stitch)

Assembly of the protein can be accomplished in many different ways.
I used five flower arranging cylinders (3 7/8 inches tall each) stacked together, held together by skewers and attached to a piece of round styrofoam to form the base.
To have the helices retain their integrity and not be stretched out by the weight of the yarn, I threaded straws, cut to the appropriate length through the helices. Then I ran a bit of yarn through them and tied the yarn very very tightly to the end of the helices. This makes the helices stay on the straw and not stretch.
I then stuck a skewer through the straw of the last (longest) helix. Halfway through, I pushed the skewer through the side of the straw and pushed it into the support column.
I then ran skewers through the column at the top and about a third of the way up, and then draped the strands on this scaffolding as shown in the actual protein structure at the website shown below.
http://www.pdb.org/pdb/101/motm_disscussed_entry.do?id=1f6g
Protein is 1F6G in the protein data bank.

 

Howdy!

I started crocheting March of last year and I absolutely love it.  I'm an engineer by day and a crocheter by night.  I'm going to post patterns I've designed that I think others would enjoy and/or find useful. 
Thanks and Gig 'Em!

-Sarah