This course will provide a set of key concepts that govern a true understanding and appreciation of why proteins are the workhorses of the cell. Students will be exposed to these concepts in both traditional lecture and presentation environments. Some of the key concepts will include: 1) understanding basic protein structure elements and how they play a role in function, 2) methods for protein structure determination and visualization including an introduction to the use of Pymol, 3) enzyme mediated chemical reactions, and 4) binding proteins and their role in signaling.