Use the following paragraph to answer the corresponding question(s).
Masatomo Kawakubo et al.reported in Science in August 2004 that the human stomach contains a natural,carbohydrate-based antibiotic that probably protects a large portion of the population from various diseases caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori.This bacterium has been linked to peptic ulcers,gastritis,and stomach cancer.This naturally occurring antibiotic is described by Kawakubo as having a terminal α1,4-linked N-acetylglucosamine (NAG),and it acts by inhibiting the biosynthesis of a major component of the cell wall in H.pylori.[Source: M.Kawakubo et al. ,Science 305 (2004): 1003.]
-In what way do carbohydrates contain and/or display information for cells?
A)Carbohydrates store information in the nucleus.
B)Carbohydrates contain and display information at the cell surface.
C)Carbohydrates display information in order to bond to substrates and catalyze reactions.
D)Actually,carbohydrates have no role in containing or displaying information for cells.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The paragraph states that the natural antibiotic in the human stomach is carbohydrate-based and contains a specific structure (terminal α1,4-linked N-acetylglucosamine) that inhibits the biosynthesis of a component in H.pylori cell walls. This implies that the carbohydrate is displaying information at the cell surface (i.e. the specific structure is recognized by the target bacteria), indicating that carbohydrates can contain and display information for cells. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect based on the information in the paragraph.

Use the Following Paragraph to Answer the Corresponding Question(s)