Organized by the Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore. 

Why attend the Food Protein Analysis workshop?

Knowing what goes into our food is essential for achieving healthy diet, balanced nutrition and importantly, food safety. Proteins are essential components in our diet as they provide the primary building blocks for our body to make/repair cells and are important for growth and development. Molecular biologists perform experiments to determine the molecular makeup of all kinds of food and in this workshop, you will be able to experience how food analyses are conducted in the laboratory by conducting these experiments!

Plant-based meat such as impossible meat is an emerging alternative protein source that possesses great potential for alleviating food shortage problems. Singapore’s government has been highly vocal and active in their support for alternative proteins. As this new category of alternative proteins emerge in the consumer market, it is especially important to develop analytical workflow for analysing the components inside these novel products to ensure consumer food safety. In this workshop, students will be taking an active role in performing the experiments required for comparison of molecular components in soybean and soybean-related alternative plant-based meat.

Students will be able to appreciate the diversity of proteins within original form of food and its newly formulated novel food counterparts from hands-on laboratory experience. These laboratory activities will help students connect theory taught in schools with hands-on experimental considerations. After the workshop, students will have a better understanding of protein science, and be able to appreciate the immense work put in by scientists in ensuring what we put inside our mouth is safe for consumption. Students will be guided by experienced educators, scientists and laboratory technicians that will help students to develop competencies and confidence in performing state-of-the-art food protein analysis experiments.

What is the content of the workshop?
The table below summarizes the sequence of events in the workshop.

What do students learn in the workshop?

Students will be taught theory and practical skills, guided by our own NUS educators, postgraduates, and technical staff.

Some of the relevant skills taught are listed below:

• Using an adjustable pipette to extract and dispense very small volumes of solution.
• Protein extraction and fractionation.
• Performing SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis and analysing the different protein bands.
• Properties and application of enzymes for protein identification.
• Basic principles of liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry for protein identification.
• To link theory or rationale with each step in the protocol, and use it to explain the results obtained.

Relevance of the workshop to H2 Biology
Some core ideas in the H1 and H2 Biology syllabus are included in the workshop.  They are:

• Biomolecules of Life
• The Structure of Proteins
• Applications of biological enzymes

Who is eligible?
Pre-university students from local junior colleges or private schools. Schools are encouraged to submit group registrations for their students. 

How long will the workshop take?
One day.
Students will extract proteins and do the profiling before lunch. After lunch, students will go for protein identification and visit Mass spectrometry facilities.

How to register?
To register, please  complete the Protein Workshop Registration 2024 form and submit it through email to DBS_outreach@nus.edu.sg

Registration closing date: 1 April 2024.

For enquiries, please contact:

Mr Ambert Ang
Phone: +65 65162711
Email: DBS_outreach@nus.edu.sg