11.5k views
1 vote
"George Palade's research group used the pulse-chase assay to dissect the secretory pathway in pancreatic cells.

If they had instead performed this assay on muscle cells, which have high energy demands and primarily consist of actin and myosin filaments, where would you expect the labeled proteins to go during the chase?

A.from the Golgi apparatus and the rough ER to the cytoplasm and the nucleus
B. from the rough ER to the Golgi apparatus
C. from the cytoplasm to the Golgi apparatus
D. from the Golgi apparatus and the rough ER to the cytoplasm and the mitochondria"

User Frnhr
by
8.1k points

1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

In a pulse-chase assay on muscle cells, labeled proteins would most likely move (Option B) from the rough ER to the Golgi apparatus and then to their specific locations within the cytoplasm for structural and functional use, not to the nucleus or mitochondria.

Step-by-step explanation:

During a pulse-chase assay on muscle cells, which consist mainly of proteins like actin and myosin, the labeled proteins would be expected to follow a specific pathway. After synthesis in the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), these proteins would move to the Golgi apparatus where they would be modified and tagged for their destination. Since muscle cells do not primarily secrete proteins but need them for structure and function internally, the labeled proteins would likely be destined for incorporation into cellular structures rather than secretion. Therefore, the most likely path for these proteins during the chase period would be from the rough ER to the Golgi apparatus and then to their specific locations within the cytoplasm, often becoming part of the muscle's contractile machinery. Secretory vesicles would not typically carry these proteins to the nucleus or be involved in high energy demands; thus, the mitochondria's involvement in this pathway would be incidental to the protein trafficking process.

User Rehan Ch
by
8.5k points