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OHIO RESEARCH FORUM 2003

Students Design a Multimedia, Pharmacology Tutorial

Mission Impossible 3: Students Design a Multimedia, Pharmacology Tutorial
Amjad M. Iqbal, David A. Catanzaro, James G. Drewett, Kenneth A. Skau, Ph.D., University of Cincinnati College of Pharmacy

ABSTRACT. An animated, multimedia tutorial covering elementary guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G-protein) coupled receptor signaling was developed as a student project for an elective course in the Doctor of Pharmacy degree program at our institution. This tutorial was designed with Hyperstudio software and is suitable for use on both MacIntosh and PC computer operating systems. It is intended as an interactive aid to teach physiology, biochemistry and/or pharmacology to medical students, nursing students, pharmacy students and undergraduates. The tutorial covers introductory material regarding receptors, ligands, and secondary messengers. It focuses specifically on G-protein coupled receptor activation of adenylyl cyclase and phospholipase C (PLC). Downstream effects of cyclic AMP, inositol triphosphate and diacylglycerol are also covered. These include activation of protein kinase A, phosphodiesterases, intracellular calcium release and protein kinase C. The fate of each second messenger is also covered. Cyclic AMP is metabolized by phosphodiesterases, and inositol triphosphate and diacylglycerol are recycled and reincorporated in the cell membrane. Discussions of the relevant history of signal transduction are integrated within this tutorial. These include the discovery of G-proteins, protein kinases, cyclic AMP and PLC and its involvement in calcium regulation. An overall theme based on the television show and motion picture Mission: Impossible was used throughout the tutorial. Music, sound bites and pictures from the movie and television show were incorporated where appropriate.

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