A newly developed antibiotic drug shows promise by inhibiting prokaryotic 70S ribosomes in initial studies. However, when animal studies are begun, it's noted that the drug also inhibits growth of animal cells. Select the statement that may be explain how this can be happening.
A) The function of ribosomes is identical, no matter their size, so a drug that can affect 70S ribosomes will also impair 80S ribosomes.
B) While the proteins made in the cytosol of eukaryotic cells are produced from the 80S eukaryotic ribosome, mitochondria and chloroplasts possess 70S ribosomes. This drug might be impairing the activity of chloroplasts in animal cells.
C) While the proteins made in the cytosol of eukaryotic cells are, indeed, produced from the 70S eukaryotic ribosome, mitochondria and chloroplasts possess 80S ribosomes. This drug might be impairing the activity of mitochondria in animal cells.
D) Perhaps the scientists accidentally combined their cultures of animal and bacterial cells-this might indicate that the drug is causing a reduction in growth in the culture, while really it's still just affecting the bacterial cells.
E) There really is no single explanation for this observation. Most likely, if the experiment was repeated, a completely different outcome would be observed.

Question

A newly developed antibiotic drug shows promise by inhibiting prokaryotic 70S ribosomes in initial studies. However, when animal studies are begun, it's noted that the drug also inhibits growth of animal cells. Select the statement that may be explain how this can be happening.
A) The function of ribosomes is identical, no matter their size, so a drug that can affect 70S ribosomes will also impair 80S ribosomes.
B) While the proteins made in the cytosol of eukaryotic cells are produced from the 80S eukaryotic ribosome, mitochondria and chloroplasts possess 70S ribosomes. This drug might be impairing the activity of chloroplasts in animal cells.
C) While the proteins made in the cytosol of eukaryotic cells are, indeed, produced from the 70S eukaryotic ribosome, mitochondria and chloroplasts possess 80S ribosomes. This drug might be impairing the activity of mitochondria in animal cells.
D) Perhaps the scientists accidentally combined their cultures of animal and bacterial cells-this might indicate that the drug is causing a reduction in growth in the culture, while really it's still just affecting the bacterial cells.
E) There really is no single explanation for this observation. Most likely, if the experiment was repeated, a completely different outcome would be observed.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This choice accurately describes the ribosomes present in animal cells and how the drug may be inhibiting the activity of the 80S ribosomes found in organelles like mitochondria.

A Newly Developed Antibiotic Drug Shows Promise by Inhibiting Prokaryotic