3. (4pts each) Suppose you expose cells to drugs with the following effects. Wil

Question

3. (4pts each) Suppose you expose cells to drugs with the following effects. Will these tend to promote microtubule growth, shrinkage, or neither? Please provide a brief explanation. A. The drug inhibits the exchange of GTP into and GDP out of tree tubulin dimers B. The drug inhibits hydrolysis of the GTP bound to tubulin in microtubules. C. The drug increases the affinity of tubulin dimers carrying GTP for other tubulin dimers. D. The drug increases the affinity of tubulin dimers carrying GDP for other tubulin dimers. E. The drug increases the affinity of alpha and beta tubulin monomers for each other within tubulin dimers

Explanation / Answer

A. If the drug inhibits the exchange of GTP into and GDP out then the polymerization of microtubules will be stopped. GTP - tubulin complex is necessary for the polymerization of microtubule so the microtubule will be in equilibrium condition.

B. The hydrolysis of GTP is much needed for the straight nature of tubulin. If the hydrolysis is stopped then the tubulin will be removed from each other. So shrinkage of microtubule will be occurred.

C. If the drug increases the affinity of tubulin dimers carrying GTP then the polymerization of microtubule will be promoted. So it helps in microtubule growth.

D. Like the above explanation this helps in the shrinkage of microtubules.

E. As alpha or beta tubulin does not supply energy to the microtubule polymerization process so the increased affinity of alpha and beta tubulin has no effect on polymerization process.

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