What a great way to begin a blog–scooped before I’ve even started!<\/p>\n
I started with this great–and not so original idea<\/a>, apparently–of having a little contest: everyone is invited to send in their all time favorite names of proteins.<\/p>\n In my own career, I once had the opportunity to name a protein. It was back in 2001, and I was racing to do “RACE-PCR” and clone the human homolog of the gene that coded for protein involved in lysosome fusion. I was not only racing against potential competitors, but also against the Human Genome Project. <\/p>\n In any case, one day I will perhaps be able to tell my grandchildren that I cloned one of the last genes before the human genome was published, and that I ended up giving it a very uninspiring name–based on its homology to the yeast protein Vam6p\/Vps39 (Vam=Vacuole Morphology; Vps=Vacuole Protein Sorting), we called it: hVam6p\/Vps39. The distinguishing part here, is the “h” for human.<\/p>\n In my view, this was a missed opportunity for giving the protein a really “cool” name, like \u201csuperglue\u201d, or \u201cfamily reunion\u201d, or \u201csardine maker\u201d based on the function of this protein in inducing fusion of lysosomes with one another.<\/p>\n So now I turn to you all and give you the opportunity to send in your favorite protein names. Please limit to no more than three names per person. I have already assembled an expert panel of local judges from Nebraska (nothing rigged here!<\/a>)–my own 2 kids–who will announce the winning name and submitter by July 1, 2011.<\/p>\n Although I myself am disqualified, here are a few of my favorites:<\/p>\n JNKKK (Jun N-terminal kinase kinase kinase—how ridiculous can you get?!) LET THE CONTEST BEGIN!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" What a great way to begin a blog–scooped before I’ve even started! I started with this great–and not so original idea, apparently–of having a little contest: everyone is invited to send in their all time favorite names of proteins. In … Continue reading
\nNUMB
\nnuclear fallout (NuF)
\nspaghetti squash<\/p>\n