Question

You Imagine that you have produced several versions of lactase, each of which differs from normal lactase by a single amino acid. Describe a test that could indirectly determine which of the versions significantly alters the three-dimensional shape of protein.

Answer 1

A test to determine the alteration in the three-dimensional shape of lactase due to a single amino acid substitution involves measuring the enzyme's activity by its rate of lactose hydrolysis. Significant changes in activity would suggest an altered three-dimensional shape impacting the protein's function.

Step-by-step explanation:

To indirectly determine which versions of lactase with a single amino acid substitution significantly alter the protein's three-dimensional shape, a common test is assessing its enzymatic activity. Normal lactase's function is to catalyze the hydrolysis of lactose into glucose and galactose. If the amino acid substitution leads to a significant change in the protein's shape, it may affect its enzymatic activity. The test involves incubating each lactase variant with a known concentration of lactose and measuring the produced glucose. A significant change or loss in enzymatic activity compared to the normal lactase indicates an alteration in the protein's three-dimensional conformation. Examples of diseases resulting from such protein folding errors include sickle cell anemia and phenylketonuria, where a single amino acid change can have severe consequences.