The Plant Veratrum Californicum Contains an Alkaloid That Can Severely

question 28

Multiple Choice

The plant Veratrum californicum contains an alkaloid that can severely affect normal developmental processes.When pregnant ewes eat this plant,their lambs may suffer deformities such as cyclopia (the development of a single central eye) and limb abnormalities.Experiments have shown that in the presence of this alkaloid,a protein known as Sonic hedgehog does not diffuse into limb buds of the embryo.The alkaloid inhibits cholesterol synthesis.What do you think is the explanation for the alkaloid's effect on development?

• A)The alkaloid blocks the transcription of Sonic hedgehog.
• B)The alkaloid cleaves Sonic hedgehog,making it ineffective.
• C)Cholesterol is needed for the diffusion of Sonic hedgehog into the limb bud.
• D)Cholesterol is needed for the translation of Sonic hedgehog mRNA.