You have isolated a bacterium from the rumen of a cow and wish to know how it transports glucose into the cell. You perform an experiment that shows uptake of radioactively labeled glucose is equal when the organism is grown in media in the presence and absence of inhibitors of energy production. What is the mechanism of glucose transport in this cell?
A) group translocation
B) diffusion
C) facilitated diffusion
D) active transport
E) endocytosis

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fact that the uptake of radioactively labeled glucose is equal in the presence and absence of inhibitors of energy production suggests that this bacterium utilizes facilitated diffusion for glucose transport, which does not require energy input from the cell. Group translocation, active transport, and endocytosis all require energy to be expended by the cell. Diffusion would not result in equal uptake in the presence and absence of energy inhibitors.

You Have Isolated a Bacterium from the Rumen of a Cow