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Consider an imaginary bacterial cell that contains equal concentrations of 900 d

ID: 705951 • Letter: C

Question

Consider an imaginary bacterial cell that contains equal concentrations of 900 different enzymes in solution in the cytosol. Each protein has a molecular weight of 100,000. The cytosol has a specific gravity of 1.17 and contains 17.9% soluble protein by weight (the protein fraction consists entirely of enzymes) Calculate the molar concentration of each enzyme in this cell. Number Assume that the bacterial cell is a cylinder (diameter 1.00 um, height 2.00 um). Calculate the number of molecules of a single enzyme in the cell. Number molecules cell

Explanation / Answer

ans)

1)Given: molecular weight of each protein = 100,000 g/ mol

The cell contains equal concentrations of 900 different enzymes in solution in the cytosol

The cytosol specific gravity =1.17 g/ml

17.9 % soluble protein by weight

Molar concentration of each enzyme:

The concentration of total protein in the cytosol = (1.17 gm/ml x 0.179)/100,000 g/mol

                                                                                    = 2.09 x 10^-6 mol/ml

= 2.09 x 10^-3 mol/L

Thus, for 1 enzyme in 800, the enzyme concentration = (2.09 x 10^-3 mol/L)/900

        = 2.32x10^-6 M

2)

Find the radius:

r=1/2*diameter =1.0 µm/2 = 0.5 µm

h = 2.0 µm

Volume of bacterial cytosol = ? r^2h = 3.14 x (0.50µm)^2 x 2.0 µm = 1.6 µm^3

1.6 x 10^-12cm^3 = 1.6 x 10^-12 ml = 1.6 x 10^-15L

Moles of enzyme =

Molarity*volume (L) = moles

2.32 x10^-6 M x 1.6 x 10^-15L = 3.712 x 10^-21 moles

Convert moles to molecules by multiplying with Avogadro constant (6.022 x 10^23)

3.712 x 10^-21 moles*(6.022 x 10^23 molecules/mole) = 2.23 x 10^3 molecules/ cell