How Do Drugs Work? Dissertation Project

How Do Drugs Work? Gamifying Receptor-Ligand Interactions is a pharmacology-based project that focuses on receptor-ligand molecular interactions. Pharmacology tutors at the University of Glasgow discovered that many students struggle with this threshold concept. The main goal of this project was to develop a game prototype that would allow students to gain a better understanding and appreciation of the 3D shape of ligands and their receptor binding sites. In the end, the game prototype became embedded in an application. Creating this application involved two phases of development. The first phase involved developing the game mechanism itself embedded in a simple application. Pilot testing was done to inform further refinements to the application and game. The second phase of development was based on the pilot testing outcomes and resulted in the addition of a learning module on G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs), the beta-2 adrenergic receptor, and one of its ligands, propranolol.

 

Dissertation Presentation Video
How Do Drugs Work? Application Walkthrough
There is a cell membrane model with a beta-2 adrenoceptor surface model. There is a title above the model. There are four buttons on the side.
How Do Drugs Work? Main Menu

This is the main menu page for the How Do Drugs Work? Application

There is a ribbon model of a rhodopsin GPCR in the center along with labels on the side indicating what each subunit of the model is. There are buttons on each corner of the screen.
GPCR Explore

This scene allows the user to rotate and identify different subunits of the GPCR model.

There is a model of a rhodopsin GPCR embedded in a cell membrane. There is a play animation button on one side of the screen.
GPCR Animation

This scene contains an animation of what happens when a ligand (11-cis-retinal) binds to a rhodopsin GPCR.

There is a chunk of text on one side of the screen and two buttons on the other side. In the center, there is a ribbon model of the beta-2 adrenoceptor. There are buttons on each of the four corners.
Beta-2 Adrenoceptor

This scene allows the user to learn more about the beta-2 adrenergic receptor (also known as beta-2 adrenoceptor) and where water molecules are located relative to it.

There is a title and a small paragraph of text. There is a model of a hydrogen bond forming and it can be played as an animation using the play animation button on the side of the screen. There are buttons in each corner of the screen.
Hydrogen Bonds

This is one of the four scenes that teaches the user about some of the chemical bonds and interactions that exist between receptors and ligands.

There is a propranolol model on one side of the screen. There is a structure and function button with a small paragraph of text corresponding to each. There are buttons in each corner of the screen.
Propranolol

This scene allows the user to learn more about the structure and function of propranolol.

There is a receptor and ligand model on the screen. Each one is very simplistic in form. There are instructions on one side of the screen and a zoom in and out slider on the other side. There is a rest button at the bottom of the screen.
Training Level

This scene allows the user to practice using the game mechanics without a timer before entering the first game level.

There is a beta-2 adrenoceptor ribbon model and a propranolol model in the center of the screen. There is a hint button in the top left corner, a zoom in and out slider on the right side, and a timer at the bottom on the screen.
First Game Level

This scene is the first game level where the user must properly orient the ligand (propranolol) and place it in the correct binding site in the beta-2 adrenoceptor.