f. The researchers used an antibody to detect phosphorylated K5 protein (green/y
ID: 133464 • Letter: F
Question
f. The researchers used an antibody to detect phosphorylated K5 protein (green/yellow) during different stages of the cell cycle. In which stages of the cell cycle is K5 highly phosphorylated (figure below will tell you the answer)? Rubric (2): Stage(s) is/are correctly indicated.
g. The researchers found that K5 phosphorylation was higher in rapidly dividing cells like mouse embryo cells and cancer cells, but lower in adult mouse skin cells. When K5 is being phosphorylated what is happening to the microtubules of the cell? Now, use that information to think about why K5 phosphorylation might be necessary for microtubules to function properly in mitosis. Rubric (3): Answer includes what is happening to MTs during specific stages of mitosis (1). Explanation of why K5 might need to be phosphorylated during specific stages of mitosis (2).
Explanation / Answer
Please find the answers below:
Answer f: The stage of the cell cycle which displays the green/yellow pattern of appearance corresponds to the one when the phosphorylated K5 protein is expressed. According to these images, it can be clearly seen that the maximum signal intensity for yellow/green color apears in the prometaphase, hence results to be the stage to which this protein belongs.
Answer g: According to the information, the presence of phosphorylated K5 in actively dividing cells such as embryonic and cancer cell demosntrates its close association with structural proteins of the cell such as microtubules. These structural proteins help the cell to maintain their integrity as well as aid in division during the terminal stages of cell cycle.
However, it is important to note here that phosphorylation itself is a very crucial molecular event which causes activation of cellular proteins. K5 is such a cellular protein which gets activated upon phophorylation and hence performs biological activities. One of such functions is cell cycle control. This phosphorylated K5 seems to be necessarily involved in stabilization of the microtubules during cell division. Thus, phosphorylated and active K5 is necessarily involved in not only maintaining cell cycle but other molecular functions in the cell as well.
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