You Have Isolated Epithelial Cells from Mouse Mammary Glands and Have

question 39

Short Answer

You have isolated epithelial cells from mouse mammary glands and have grown them in a three-dimensional gelatinous matrix in the presence or absence of a specific inhibitor that targets a transmembrane metalloprotease. The protease is capable of cleaving cadherin near the base of its extracellular domain to release an N-terminal fragment containing the extracellular cadherin domains. The distribution of the cells in the matrix, as seen under a light microscope, one day after the transplantation of the isolated tissue is presented in the following schematic drawings. Which condition (1 or 2) do you think corresponds to the presence of the protease inhibitor? Write down 1 or 2 as your answer.

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Definitions:

Phenol

An aromatic organic compound with a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to a phenyl ring, used in the manufacture of plastics and pharmaceuticals.

Acidic

Characterized by a low pH and the ability to donate protons or accept electron pairs during chemical reactions.

Approximate Pka

An estimated value describing the acidity of a compound, specifically the logarithmic measure of its acid dissociation constant.

Step-By-Step Mechanism

Detailed sequence of steps and intermediate species involved in the overall course of a chemical reaction, highlighting how reactants transform into products.