Refer to the table below.The biosynthesis of the amino acid serine occurs through a series of metabolic reactions.A protein that catalyzes one of the beginning steps in the series was purified from bacterial cells.The rate of the reaction catalyzed by the protein was measured under varying concentrations of serine and the results summarized in the table. The data show that serine _______ the protein, possibly by binding to the protein and causing a change in the protein's _______.

Question

Refer to the table below.The biosynthesis of the amino acid serine occurs through a series of metabolic reactions.A protein that catalyzes one of the beginning steps in the series was purified from bacterial cells.The rate of the reaction catalyzed by the protein was measured under varying concentrations of serine and the results summarized in the table.  The data show that serine _______ the protein, possibly by binding to the protein and causing a change in the protein's _______.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The data in the table show that increasing concentrations of serine lead to a decreasing rate of the reaction catalyzed by the protein. This suggests that serine is inhibiting the protein, possibly by binding to it and causing a change in its tertiary structure. Option A, which suggests that serine activates the protein, is incorrect based on the data in the table. Option D, which suggests that serine inhibits the protein by affecting its primary structure, is unlikely given that changes in primary structure typically involve changes in the order or type of amino acids in the protein, whereas serine is a small molecule that would not be expected to directly affect primary structure. Option E, which suggests that serine activates the protein by altering its quaternary structure (e.g., by promoting protein-protein interactions), is not supported by the data in the table.

Refer to the Table Below