Ribosomes are the site of protein synthesis in the cell. At each ribosome, amino

Question

Ribosomes are the site of protein synthesis in the cell. At each ribosome, amino acids are added to growing protein chains. In an active ribosome in a certain bacterium, E. coli, assume all reactants are present in the cell in great excess, with a rate of addition of 20 amino acids added to the protein per second. The average molecular weight of an amino acid is 126 Da.

a. Write a generalized equation for this reaction.

b. What is your assumed reaction order, and why?

c. What is the rate of protein synthesis per ribosome (in kg/s)?

d. In order for a bacterium to divide, it needs to have first doubled it mass of proteins, DNA, and other essential cell components. If there are 100 ribosomes in E. coli, actively synthesizing protein, how long will it take for the cell to produce enough protein so it could double? The approximate mass of protein in E. coli just after cell division is 7 x 10-19 kg.

Explanation / Answer

Ribosomes are the site of protein synthesis in the cell. At each ribosome, amino

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