Q13 - Pat and Cob Control Acetylation and Growth in Salmonella

Theoretical A Real exam question - full text reproduced under IBO's CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license

Sir Edwin Southern (1938-present) invented a method to visualise specific biomolecules, by separating them according to size, transferring them to a membrane and using specific probes for them. Protein modifications, including acetylation can be visualised in a similar way (Western blotting). WT Salmonella had their proteins extracted, and acetylation of a metabolic enzyme was investigated after treatment with purified enzymes pat or cob (1). The role of pat and cob in Salmonella growth was assessed in knockout cells (2).

Figure for Q13: Pat and Cob Control Acetylation and Growth in Salmonella

Using the information and data, determine which of the statements are true or which are false.

A. Cob adds acetyl groups to proteins.

B. More pat treated protein than cob treated protein was used in this analysis.

C. Peak growth rate is equal whether Salmonella are feeding on glucose or citrate.

D. Growth on citrate is initially slow because it takes time for cells to reduce pat activity.

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Question reproduced from IBO 2017, Theoretical Exam A, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 - attributed to the International Biology Olympiad. Open the full exam PDF · Official answer key & worked solutions