Which of the following would be the most direct method to label microtubules with a fluorescent dye?
A)injecting tubulin with a fluorescent dye
B)attaching a fluorescently-labeled antibody to tubulin
C)attaching a fluorescently-labeled antibody to actin
D)inducing a cell to express the gene for tubulin that has been fused to the gene for GFP
E)attaching a fluorescently-labeled antibody to tubulin and inducing a cell to express the gene for tubulin that has been fused to the gene for GFP

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Attaching a fluorescently-labeled antibody to tubulin is the most direct method for labeling microtubules with a fluorescent dye. This is because tubulin is the protein that makes up microtubules, and by attaching a fluorescently-labeled antibody to it, the antibody will specifically bind to the microtubules and label them. Injecting tubulin with a fluorescent dye or inducing a cell to express the gene for tubulin that has been fused to the gene for GFP are also possible methods, but they would require additional steps and may not be as specific as using an antibody. Attaching a fluorescently-labeled antibody to actin would not directly label microtubules, as actin is a different type of cytoskeletal protein. Choosing option E would be redundant and not necessary.

Which of the Following Would Be the Most Direct Method