Training and outreach portal of

Peak Performance

the structural biology of athletics and well-being

Athletes require bodies that are the best that is possible, all the way from molecules to muscles. By understanding the structure and function of our molecules, athletes can ensure that they are performing at their peak. This knowledge also informs the ways that we all can live our best lives, at all stages of our lives.

Molecule of the Month Articles (38)

Acetohydroxyacid Synthase

Adrenergic Receptors

Alcohol Dehydrogenase

Anabolic Steroids

	Acetohydroxyacid Synthase In plants, AHAS performs the first step in synthesis of three essential amino acids, making it an effective target for herbicides.
	Adrenergic Receptors Adrenaline stimulates a G-protein-coupled receptor, priming us for action
	Alcohol Dehydrogenase Alcohol dehydrogenase detoxifies the ethanol we drink
	Anabolic Steroids Anabolic steroids like testosterone are among the most common performance enhancing drugs
	Angiotensin and Blood Pressure Many medications for controlling high blood pressure inhibit the action of the peptide hormone angiotensin.
	ATP Synthase ATP synthase links two rotary motors to generate ATP
	Calcium Pump Atomic structures have captured the calcium pump in action
	Carbonic Anhydrase Carbonic anhydrase solubilizes carbon dioxide gas so we can breathe it out
	Catalase Catalase protects us from dangerous reactive oxidizing molecules
	Circadian Clock Proteins Circadian clock proteins measure time in our cells
	Citric Acid Cycle Eight enzymes form a cyclic pathway for energy production and biosynthesis
	Complex I A proton-pumping protein complex performs the first step of the respiratory electron transport chain
	Cytochrome c Oxidase Cytochrome oxidase extracts energy from food using oxygen
	Estrogen Receptor Estrogen binds to receptors in the nucleus and affects key genes in development
	Fatty Acid Synthase Fatty acids are constructed in many sequential steps by a large protein complex
	Glycogen Phosphorylase Glycogen phosphorylase releases sugar from its cellular storehouse
	Glycolytic Enzymes The ten enzymes of glycolysis break down sugar in our diet
	Growth Hormone Growth hormone brings together two copies of its cellular receptor
	Hemoglobin Hemoglobin uses a change in shape to increase the efficiency of oxygen transport
	Hypoxia-Inducible Factors HIF-α is a molecular switch that responds to changing oxygen levels.
	Lactate Dehydrogenase Our cells temporarily build lactate when supplies of oxygen are low
	Lead Poisoning Lead ions poison proteins throughout the body, blocking their normal function.
	Leptin Problems with the appetite-controlling hormone leptin can lead to obesity
	Monellin Monellin and other supersweet proteins trick our taste receptors.
	Myosin Molecular motors fueled by ATP power the contraction of muscles
	Nicotine, Cancer, and Addiction Nicotine causes addiction by interacting with receptors in the brain
	Odorant Receptors Our sense of smell relies on odorant receptors that recognize specific scents.
	Opioid Receptors Morphine and other opioid drugs bind to receptors in the nervous system, controlling pain
	Oxidosqualene Cyclase Oxidosqualine cyclase forms the unusual fused rings of cholesterol molecules
	Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex A huge molecular complex links three sequential reactions for energy production
	Respiratory Supercomplex In our mitochondria, three electron-transport complexes assemble into a supercomplex.
	Rhodopsin In our eyes, rhodopsin uses the molecule retinal to see light
	S-Nitrosylated Hemoglobin Nitric oxide is attached to a conserved cysteine in hemoglobin and then released to control the flow of blood.
	Serotonin Receptor Serotonin receptors control mood, emotion, and many other behaviors, and are targets for many important drugs
	Sodium-Potassium Pump Cells continually pump sodium ions out and potassium ions in, powered by ATP
	Superoxide Dismutase Superoxide dismutase protects us from dangerously reactive forms of oxygen
	Vitamin D Receptor Vitamin D helps regulate the use of calcium throughout the body
	Vitamins Vitamins are essential molecular tools that are obtained through a healthy diet.

Learning Resources (14)

G Protein-Coupled Receptor (GPCR)

(Paper Model)

2025 Calendar: The Structural Biology of Nutrition

(Calendar)

2024 Calendar: Peak Performance

(Calendar)

How do Drugs Work?

(Flyer)

	G Protein-Coupled Receptor (GPCR) Paper Model GPCRs are a large family of membrane-embedded receptors, with structural features that have been preserved through the course of evolution. This model represents the shared structural features of all GPCRs. With the extracellular N-terminus, the protein chain folds to form a bundle of seven transmembrane alpha helices connected by 3 intracellular and 3 extracellular loops with the C-terminus reaching inside the cell.
	2025 Calendar: The Structural Biology of Nutrition Calendar The food that we eat contains four major classes of molecules–proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates–as well as many micronutrients like vitamins and minerals. Our bodies contain thousands of different proteins that interact with and utilize these nutrients to build up our bodies and provide the energy we need to live.
	2024 Calendar: Peak Performance Calendar Athletes require bodies that perform best, all the way from molecules to muscles. By understanding the structure and function of biomolecules, athletes can ensure that they are performing at their peak. These include molecules that power and control muscle action, molecules that turn food into energy, essential dietary molecules that are required for health, and molecules that protect our bodies under extreme stress and exertion. This knowledge also informs the ways that all of us can live our best lives, at all stages of our lives.
	How do Drugs Work? Flyer PDB structures are used to discuss antibiotics and antivirals, chemotherapy, drug metabolism, drugs of signaling proteins, and lifestyle drugs.
	Insulin and Diabetes Poster Structural biology has revealed the details of insulin signaling and how this knowledge is being used to create new and better treatments for diabetes.
	How Neurons Communicate Video The billions of neurons in our nervous system are constantly communicating. The signals they send to each other are responsible for our thoughts, sensations, and actions. Learn how ions, ion channels, receptors, and neurotransmitters work together to enable the neuronal signaling process.
	Vitamin A and Vision Video Learn how vitamin A activates the molecular pathways that are essential for vision.
	Caffeine and Adenosine: Antagonist and Agonist Video This short video uses the example of adenosine and caffeine to introduce two key concepts in pharmacology: the agonist and the antagonist. Both, adenosine, and caffeine molecules bind to adenosine receptors on the neurons. Caffeine, the antagonist, blocks the receptor, while adenosine, the agonist, produces the biological response upon binding.
	Opioids and Pain Signaling Video Pain is one of the most trying experiences of life. On the cellular level it is communicated via special neuronal pathways. On the molecular level, however, pain is communicated like any other sensation, via a set of electrical and chemical signals facilitated by complex molecular machinery. These signals can be modulated by opioids, causing us to feel less pain, or no pain at all. Learn how opioids activate the G-proteins which in turn interact with other proteins to edit the pain signal.
	Neuronal Signaling and Sodium-Potassium Pump Video Explore the concepts of resting and action potentials and the role of sodium-potassium pump in regulating them.
	Calcium Pump Video The calcium pump moves ions across cell membranes allowing the synchronized contraction of muscle cells.
	Bound! Protein-drug matching game Other Resource Bound! is a card game for students 12 and up, where players compete to match the most drugs to their protein targets.
	Hemoglobin Bean Bag Toss Other Resource
	Exploring the Structural Biology of Health and Nutrition Article By understanding the molecular needs of our cells, we can ensure that our bodies operate at peak performance.

Goodsell Molecular Landscapes (3)

Red Blood Cell Cytoskeleton

Insulin Action

Biosites: Red Blood Cell

	Red Blood Cell Cytoskeleton Cross section through a red blood cell membrane shows the distinctive cytoskeleton
	Insulin Action Insulin Action (2016) by David S. Goodsell.
	Biosites: Red Blood Cell Biosites: Red Blood Cell (2005) by David S. Goodsell