You are working in a laboratory, trying to identify how the nematode worm C. ele

Question

You are working in a laboratory, trying to identify how the nematode worm C. elegans senses and moves toward specific "attractant chemicals. You examine an electronic database that compiles mRNA expression profiles of all nematode genes measured by DNA microarray hybridization experiments, and find that an unknown gene is transcribed coordinately with several genes known to be involved in the attractant response. You name this gene Unk1 and set out to learn what it does.

A. Without doing a single experiment at the lab bench, how can you learn more about what the Unk1 protein might be doing? How might this influence your choice of experiments with Unk1?

B. You decide to look for proteins that bind to Unk1, which may provide important clues to its function. Briefly describe an approach to find binding partners.

Explanation / Answer

A. ExPASy or Expert protein Analysis System is an effective tool which can be used to learn more about what Unk1 protein might be doing. For this all that is needed is the sequence and no lab bench experiment is required. Since this may reveal the physiological properties, it may useful in identifying the proteases which in turn can help to study specific portions of the protein.

B. The same tool can be used to find binding partners also. The properties identified from the amino acid sequence can be used to find the relevant relationship between the binding affinity and their complementary properties.

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