Question

You perform an experiment which involves fusing a fluorescent green protein to the FtsZ protein and monitoring its location in the cell. If you introduce this version of the FtsZ protein into a cell that also has a mutation in the MinE protein that makes MinE defective, where do you predict the cell to glow green?

A. Diffuse in the cytoplasm
B. In a ring randomly located at any point along the cell
C. In a ring around the cell midline only
D. In a ring at the cell poles only

Answer 1

In a cell with a MinE mutation, the fusion protein of FtsZ and fluorescent green protein would be expected to glow green in a ring at the cell poles only.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a cell with a mutation in the MinE protein that makes MinE defective, the fusion protein of FtsZ and fluorescent green protein would be expected to glow green in a ring at the cell poles only.

The FtsZ protein is responsible for initiating cytokinesis and cell division by forming a Z ring that pinches the cell envelope. The Z ring is anchored to the plasma membrane and directs the formation of the new cell walls of the daughter cells.

In a cell with a MinE mutation, the defective MinE protein would disrupt the formation of the Z ring, causing it to localize predominantly at the cell poles where the FtsZ protein is most concentrated. Therefore, the cell would glow green in a ring at the cell poles only.