Question

Proteins that promote the establishment of a heterochromatic state:

A) Histone acetyltransferases
B) DNA polymerases
C) DNA methyltransferases
D) Heterochromatin-binding proteins

Answer 1

The proteins that promote the establishment of a heterochromatic state are DNA methyltransferases, which add methyl groups to DNA, resulting in more compact chromatin and gene silencing.

Step-by-step explanation:

Proteins that promote the establishment of a heterochromatic state are typically involved in the chemical modification of chromatin, which affects the condensation of chromatin and the accessibility of DNA to transcription machinery. The correct answer in the context given is C) DNA methyltransferases.

These enzymes add methyl groups to DNA, which can cause chromatin to become more compact, leading to a heterochromatic state and gene silencing. Histone acetyltransferases, on the other hand, are usually involved in loosening chromatin structure to promote gene expression.