55 teams from high schools in New Jersey demonstrated their understanding of protein structure at three regional Science Olympiad competitions.

The focus of this year's event uses the example of the discovery and treatment of a rare genetic trait to explore proteins involved in the regulation of apoptosis. Related Molecule of the Month columns are key resources for this event. For an overview, see http://cbm.msoe.edu/stupro/so/index.html.

The top scoring NJ teams were:

(Click image to enlarge)South Brunswick (First place, south) with their prebuilt model of a caspase protein.

(Click image to enlarge)
Teams quickly build models on site, and take a written exam.

(Click image to enlarge)
Luigi Di Costanzo describes how models were scored at the event.

1. South Brunswick
2. West Windsor Plainsboro North
3. Moorestown Friends
4. Cherry Hill EastMATES Academy
5. 6 Cherry Hill West

1. JP Stevens
2. Hillsborough
3. Princeton
4. West Windsor Plainsboro North
5. Summit
6. New Providence

1. West Windsor Plainsboro #1
2. West Windsor Plainsboro #2
3. Bergen County Academies
4. Al-Ghazaly HS
5. JP Stevens
6. Livingston

Protein modeling will be one of several events at Science Olympiads across the country. Teams are recognized for their performance in individual events and in the overall tournament.

The RCSB PDB will also be involved with protein modeling at the San Diego Science Olympiad tournament that will be held February 18, 2012.

Many thanks to the RCSB PDB judges (Luigi Di Costanzo, Sutapa Ghosh, Brian Hudson, Huangwang Yang, Christine Zardecki, and Marina Zhuravleva), the NJ Science Olympiad organizers and volunteers, the host colleges (Camden County, Union County, and NJIT), and to the MSOE Center for BioMolecular Modeling for the materials and design of this event.