Studies of the endomembrane system often involve the use of a protein that can emit a green fluorescence (glow). A researcher wants to make a video of cell behavior, so she initially labels the outer nuclear envelope of a cell with the fluorescent tag and records a video for several hours. Later, she sees that the tag is part of a transport vesicle very close to the plasma membrane.
-The fluorescent tag likely became incorporated into which of the following organelles during the video?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The endomembrane system includes the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, and plasma membrane. The fluorescent tag becoming part of a transport vesicle that is close to the plasma membrane indicates that it was incorporated into the endoplasmic reticulum, which is involved in the transport of proteins and lipids to the plasma membrane. The other organelles listed (mitochondria, ribosomes, peroxisomes) are not part of the endomembrane system and would not be involved in such transport.

Studies of the Endomembrane System Often Involve the Use of a Protein