Cells are often ground up with abrasive to get to their internal enzymes/molecules, followed by removal of the abrasives. Here are three situations and three outcomes. What is the correct interpretation of the results? In situation #1, radioactive amino acids are added to cell material, and radioactive proteins are produced. In situation #2, radioactive amino acids, cell material, and the enzyme DNAse (degrades DNA) are added together. Radioactive proteins are still produced. In situation #3, the ground-up cell material is allowed to sit for 24 hours before radioactive amino acids and DNAse are added to it. No radioactive protein is produced. Interpretation?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The presence of natural RNAses/DNAses in the ground-up material can degrade any mRNA/DNA during the 24-hour interval. This prevents the transcription and translation processes, which ultimately leads to no radioactive protein production in scenario #3. However, in scenarios #1 and #2, no such degradation occurs, allowing for radioactive proteins to be produced. The presence of DNAse in scenario #2 does not affect protein production because it only degrades DNA and not proteins.

Cells Are Often Ground Up with Abrasive to Get to Their