Some photosynthetic organisms perform phototaxis. Martian microbe 2 actually per

Question

Some photosynthetic organisms perform phototaxis. Martian microbe 2 actually performs “scotophobia,” which is really an avoidance of the dark, rather than attraction to the light. This organism has a photoreceptor, and a two-component system similar to the CheA/CheY system of E. coli. Finally, it has a polar bundle of flagella, which operate in a similar way to E. coli: spinning counter clockwise, the flagella form a bundle and allow the cell to swim (i.e. a run). If the spin switches to clockwise, the bundle flies apart and the cell tumbles. The photoreceptor protein does not get methylated/demethylated as do the MCPs of E. coli, and as such is a more simple system.

Using fluorescence-tagged antibodies, you confirm the localization of the chemoreceptors and flagella to the cell poles. This gives you a fluorescence marker for the poles. You are also interested in marking the “mid-cell” position; which protein(s) might you target with antibodies in the cell?

Explanation / Answer

To target a protein in a mid cell position, I will choose the componant which is similar to CheA/CheY system of E. coli. On E.coli the CheA/CheY componants are intracellular at position and interacted with transmembrane chemoreceptors. Thus in Martian microbe 2, if the componant acts in similar fashion, it is likely that the componant is situated intracellulary and not in polar position.

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