You have identified an alien species of bacteria coming in samples sent to earth
ID: 9310 • Letter: Y
Question
You have identified an alien species of bacteria coming in samples sent to earth by the Mars Rover. Initial experiments seem to suggest that it is able to grow in Myelin, a lipid that coats the nerves in humans. It does that by a pathway that produces a series of enzymes known as Myelinase 1, Myelinase 2 and Myelinase 3. Sequencing the DNA shows that the Myelinase genes are adjacent one to the other in the chromosome, and your professor came up with a hypothesis that these genes are under common regulation, and respond to an inducible biofeedback mechanism. Explain how this mechanism might work, and what things you should observe in an experiment that proves this hypothesis. Why do you think the bacteria evolved this mechanism?Explanation / Answer
The myelin lipid, which coats the lipid membranes, is synthesized through an enzyme myelinase.
The pathway include three enzymes as said above, myelinase 1, myelinase 2, and myelinase 3.
--These genes are adjacent to one another and have a common regulation.
This implies that constutite an operon, regulated by a single promoter and regulator.
--They have a biofeedback mechanism, that is product inhibits the mylinase 1 enzyme.
substrate----myelinase1---->intermediate------myelinase2------>intermediate-------->myelinase3--------> product
-- The hypothesis can be observed, in which the myelin(product), at higher concentration will inhibit the myelinase1 enzyme and stops the further production of myelin.
--This is an mechanism adapted by the bacteria through which conservation of the compounds and molecules can be done. In addition it also minmizes the wastage of product.
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