Please help: Components from the cytosol can be separated on a sucrose gradient
ID: 49632 • Letter: P
Question
Please help:
Components from the cytosol can be separated on a sucrose gradient by equilibrium density-gradient equilibrium (Remember: a similar method was used to demonstrate that DNA replication is semiconservative). After centrifugation, heavy (high density) protein complexes will sediment further away from the top of the gradient than light (low density) complexes. When the gradient is collected into fractions of increasing density, protein complexes that migrated at different level of the gradient can be separated. Note: the cytosol corresponds to the cytoplasmic fraction minus all the organelles.
1- The RNA molecules are visualized by staining the gel with silver nitrate. The different fractions give different patterns of bands (Figure 2, Panel A), these bands are labeled a, b, c, d and e. Bands, a, c, d, and e are very sharp suggesting a single type of RNA whereas band b is relatively broad suggesting a moderate heterogeneity in the RNA content. A pulse-chase experiment is performed to identify the RNA found in band b. A mixture of radioactive UTP is injected inside the oocytes. After the chase, the cytosol is submitted to centrifugation, the RNA contained in the 7S, 42S, 80S fraction is purified, and resolved by gel electrophoresis. An X-ray film is placed in contact with the gel and then developed. The result of the film development is shown in the panel B of figure 2.
a) Based on this result, identify the type of RNA contained in band b. Briefly explain.
b) Why is the band b broad?
c) Would the appearance of the band detected on the film change if the pulse is performed with a single radiolabeled tRNA instead of a radiolabeled UTP? Explain.
Explanation / Answer
the type of RNA found in the panel is rRNA.