Question

The hydrolysis of GTP to GDP carried out by tubulin molecules ________________. Group of answer choices a) tips the balance in favor of microtubule assembly. b) occurs because the pool of free GDP has run out. c) allows the behavior of microtubules called dynamic instability.

Answer 1

The correct answer: C) allows the behavior of microtubules called dynamic instability.

Step-by-step explanation:

Microtubules are structures that are part of the cytoskeleton and help provide structure and shape to eukaryotic cells, besides assisting in the transport of organelles and vesicles.

Microtubules are formed by the polymerization of a dimer of two tubulins.

Microtubules have the particularity of being able to easily assemble and disassemble, which enlarges and shrinks the microtubule respectively. This property of the microtubules is important to their functions and is called dynamic instability.

In order to achieve dynamic instability, tubulin dimers can bind two molecules of GTP - for polymerization to happen, one of the GTP molecules is hydrolyzed to catalyze the reaction, thus becoming GDP. In the same matter, the energy generated from the depolymerization with turn the GDP into GTP.