Scientists can track the movement of proteins through the endomembrane system using an approach known as a
Question:
Scientists can track the movement of proteins through the endomembrane system using an approach known as a pulse-chase experiment. This experiment involves
the “pulse” phase: Cells are exposed to a high concentration of a radioactively labeled amino acids for a short period to “tag” proteins that are being synthesized.
the “chase” phase: Any unincorporated (not used to make proteins) radioactively labeled amino acids are washed away and large amounts of the same, but unlabeled, amino acid are added.
Only those proteins synthesized during the brief pulse phase are radioactively tagged. These tagged proteins can be tracked through the chase period to determine their location in the cell.
The data below were obtained from a pulse-chase experiment in which cells were examined at different times during the chase period. The numbers represent the radioactivity (measured in counts per minute) recorded at each of the indicated sites. The higher the number, the greater the radioactivity.
Table 1. Results of pulse-chase experiment.
| Radioactivity Levels (in counts/minute) by cellular location | ||||
Time After Pulse | ER | Golgi | Cytoplasm | Lysosomes | Extracellular Space |
3 min | 162 | 7 | 21 | 5 | 5 |
20 min | 73 | 88 | 17 | 8 | 10 |
60 min | 9 | 35 | 14 | 11 | 112 |
120 min | 11 | 23 | 18 | 12 | 151 |
1. Examine the narrative and table provided above and provide a 1 sentence explanation (in your own words) of the information the table conveys.