Princess Kara Parker Smith
Class of 2005 - Present
Frederick Douglas Academy
Topic: 2006 Genomic Screening
Topic: The Deglycosylation of Alpha-Agglutinin
Experience:
During the summer, I worked at Hunter College in a Research Biochemistry Lab. For 10 weeks, I worked with a mentor on a rigorous project. Our project was to try to uncover data concerning the structure of alpha agglutinin, a cell adhesion protein, and how it serves as an adhesin. We wanted to do this because alpha- agglutinin is homologous, or is in the same family as the Als protein, which binds Candida albicans , an infectious fungus, to the mucus membranes of human beings. If we could find out the structure of alpha- agglutinin, then we could determine ways to inhibit the Als protein being used as an adhesin, ridding us various infectious diseases and/ or effects of the Candida albicans . I learned many new techniques and information on cells that I never could have even imagined. I worked well above the high-school level, as I also presented Power Points and created a poster on my research.
**The Harlem Children Society is a wonderful program that gave me the opportunity to learn, mature and grow over the summer. I was taught so many new and amazing things in the biochemistry field, as well as built relationships with professional, hard-working adults and other spirited interns. Thank you!!!