Francis Yoshimoto's Biochemistry II laboratory students were able to explore proteins in a unique way by utilizing virtual reality headsets in UTSA's VizLab.
MAY 9, 2022 — Francis Yoshimoto, assistant professor in the UTSA College of Sciences’ Department of Chemistry, is introducing his Biochemistry II laboratory students to a new way of learning—using virtual reality headsets to observe and analyze protein structures.
Yoshimoto’s students utilized the Department of Computer Science’s VizLab to set up these virtual reality (VR) headsets. Students created snapshots of a protein using traditional computer software—such as Chimera or Pymol—and then went to the same region of the protein in ProteinVR, a web-based molecular visualization program that allows one to see proteins with a VR headset.
After comparing the two images, the students prepared 3D snapshots of other proteins and their interactions with ligands or protein partners by searching the protein databank for other human health-related proteins, such as the SARS CoV-2 spike protein, which the coronavirus uses to invade human cells.
The 3D VR headsets proved an effective way to instruct students about protein structures—immersing them in a unique learning experience. Under the ProteinVR viewer with the Oculus headset, students could change their viewing angles of the protein and navigate forward and backward using the joystick on the Oculus hand controller. With the headset on, students could travel inside the protein. If they wanted to move in a different direction around the protein, they could simply tilt their heads while wearing the headset and continue to move forward and backward with the joystick.
“For over 15 years, I have been looking at proteins just on my computer screen,” Yoshimoto said. “Putting a virtual reality headset on to go inside an actual protein was truly an eye-opening experience for both myself and my students.”
Virtual reality technology is already in use in the biomedical industry. It has, for example, been used to aid pharmaceutical businesses in their work designing novel drugs—a recent advancement for developing new medicines. By receiving exposure and training in VR technology, Yoshimoto’s students were able to apply the skills they learn in the classroom in a way that is relevant to a future career in biomedical research. The project is representative of UTSA’s commitment to programs that provide students with a greater understanding of marketable skills needed in the workplace and are particularly important in linking classroom success to life after graduation for historically underserved populations.
Yoshimoto and his lab instructors partnered with the university’s Research Computing Support Group to arrange this VR learning experience.
UTSA is a Tier One research university and a Hispanic Serving Institution specializing in cyber, health, fundamental futures, and social-economic transformation. The university aspires to become a model for student success, a great public research university, and an exemplar for strategic growth and innovative excellence.
UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.
Dr. Michael Doyle has had an immense impact on the field of catalysis and organic chemistry. Join in a one-day symposium. In order to honor Dr. Doyle’s colossal career accomplishments with his upcoming retirement, we are holding a one day symposium event
Riklin Auditorium (FS 1.406,) Frio Street Building, Downtown CampusThe San Antonio Military Health and Universities Research Forum (SURF) attracts presenters from around the nation to showcase the work of students, trainees, faculty and staff. The mission of the SURF conference is to “advance research collaborations among academic, military, and industry partners to improve health outcomes and readiness.”
TBDThe NHERI Summer Institute is a free event for early-career faculty, NHERI Graduate Student Council, K-12 educators from the San Antonio area, engineers, and researchers to learn more about the Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI) community.
La Villita Room (DBB 1.116,) Durango Building, Main CampusConnect with peer mentors and fellow first-gen and transfer students, and learn how you can join UTSA's First-Gen programs for the Fall 2023 semester.
Mentoring Hub (MS 2.02.02,) Multidisciplinary Studies Building, Main CampusBuilding the Dual Language Leader Symposium will provide a safe space for current and aspiring leaders to learn best practices, theories, policies, and systems that support a dual language bilingual education.
UTSA Southwest Campus, 300 Augusta St.Streaming of Spray the Word that will conclude with a discussion with San Antonio's Poet Laureate, Andrea "Vocab" Sanderson.
Aula Canaria (BVB 1.328,) Buena Vista Street Building, Downtown CampusCelebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at our very own street fair - Calle UTSA. We will have activities, performances, food, music, and pinatas to break open! All free to UTSA students, faculty, and staff.
Student Union Paseo, Main CampusThe University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education.
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to ending generations of discrimination and inequity. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.
