Exam Iii

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MCB 252
EXAM III
April 14, 2015

FORM A KEY

This exam consists of 60 questions for a total of 175 points.

There are 22 pages to this exam. PRINT your name, section letter, TA’s name, and
network ID at the top of this page. You have 2 hours to complete this exam.

Questions 1-‐10 are worth 2 points each.

1. Myosin V is thought to move as described by the hand-‐over-‐hand model; whereas,
dimeric dyneins are thought to move as described by the inch-‐worm model.

A. TRUE
B. FALSE

2. As described in lecture, some (if not all) metastatic cancer cells have the ability to
move rather than just be passively moved along in the blood.

A. TRUE
B. FALSE

3. As discussed in lecture, during the course of evolution it is rare to invent novel
proteins and machines. Once a protein or machine is invented, it is (relatively)
common to adapt it to different roles.

A. TRUE
B. FALSE

1
4. For a homogeneous polymer the critical concentration is the same for both ends and
the equilibrium constant is the same for both ends. As a result the rate addition of
monomers at both must be the same.

A. TRUE
B. FALSE

5. As described in lecture, it was physicists, not biologists or chemists, who figured out
exactly how actin polymerization moves membranes.

A. TRUE
B. FALSE

6. During the course of evolution, which likely evolved first?

A. muscle cell sarcomeres
B. contractile bundles in stress fibers

7. During mitosis chromosomes first move in one direct, then in another.

A. TRUE
B. FALSE

8. Since actin filaments are helical structures, myosin V rotates around a helical path as it
travels down an actin filament.

A. TRUE
B. FALSE

9. As described in lecture, cancer cells are the most rapidly dividing cells during the life
of a human.

A. TRUE
B. FALSE

10. Both α-‐tubulin and β-‐tubulin bind GTP.

A. TRUE
B. FALSE

2

11. Which of the following movements are dependent on myosin proteins?

A. Phagocytosis
B. Muscle contraction
C. Cytoplasmic streaming
D. Both A and B
E. All of the above
*ACCEPT ALL ANSWERS

12. Which type of filament(s) was/were described in lecture as providing resistance to
mechanical stress?

A. actin filaments
B. intermediate filaments
C. microtubules
D. Both B and C
E. All of the above

13. Match the type of cytoskeletal filament with the correct structure or function in
human cells.

X = actin filament i = imparts resistance to mechanical stress
Y = intermediate filament ii = mitotic spindle
Z = microtubule iii = Contractile ring

A. X = i, Y = ii, Z = iii
B. X = iii, Y = ii, Z = i
C. X = iii, Y = i, Z = ii
D. X = ii, Y = iii, Z = i
E. X = ii, Y = i, Z = iii

14. Which of the following filaments are polar?

A. Microtubules
B. Actin filaments
C. Intermediate filaments
D. Both A and B
E. All of the above

3
15. Consider the two actin proteins on the two ends of an actin filament. Which of the
following statements is TRUE?

A. The cleft is exposed on the protein on the plus end and is not exposed on the protein
on the minus end.
B. The cleft is exposed on the protein on the minus end and is not exposed on the
protein on the plus end.
C. The cleft is exposed on both proteins.
D. The cleft is not exposed on both proteins.
E. All of the above statements are false.

16. Some of the humans that migrated out of Africa interbred with Neanderthals. Some
Neanderthal genes are still retained in the human descendants of those
interbreeding events. Which of the following types of Neanderthal genes can still be
found in those descendants?

A. A gene involved in skin pigmentation
B. Genes that encode keratins (skin intermediate filaments)
C. Genes involved in muscle function
D. Both A and B
E. All of the above

17. Which of the following is correct with regard to the two statements below?

i = Profilin binds to the minus end of actin monomers.

ii = CapZ is found in sarcomeres, in the back part of the lamellipodia and in the
ankyrin/spectrin structures that surround vesicles.

A. Both i and ii are TRUE.
B. i is TRUE and ii is FALSE.
C. i is FALSE and ii is TRUE.
D. Both i and ii are FALSE.

18. The concentration of G-‐actin in cells (based on the total amount of actin in a cell) is
approximately how many times the critical concentration?

A. 1
B. 5
C. 50
D. 100
E. 1,000

4

19. You have cloned the gene that encodes a myosin V family member. You make a
mutation in that gene that results in a myosin V protein that has a duty ratio that is
half that of the wild-‐type protein. Your mutation has no other effect on the
function of the protein. How do you expect the behavior of your mutant protein to
be different from the wild-‐type protein?

A. The mutant protein will move half as fast as the wild-‐type protein.
B. The mutant protein will move twice as fast as the wild-‐type protein
C. The mutant protein will fall off the actin filament more frequently than the
wild-‐type protein.
D. The mutant protein will move farther along the actin filament before falling off than
the wild-‐type.
E. Both B and D

20. A “seam” is found in which cytoskeletal filament(s)?

A. Actin filaments
B. Intermediate filaments
C. Microtubules
D. Both A and B
E. All of the above

21. What type of mutants revealed the role of Rho, Rac and Cdc42 in cell movement?

A. A dominant negative mutant
B. An allele that was dominant to wild-‐type
C. An allele that was recessive to wild-‐type
D. Both A and B
E. None of the above

5
22. The image below is a drawing of an experiment discussed in lecture. In this
experiment a fragment of the cell was severed from the main body of the cell. That
cell fragment is shown at the bottom of the figure below. The fragment contains
severed microtubules but does not contain a centrosome. Which of the following
best describes what happened to the microtubules in the cell fragment at the end of
the experiment we discussed?

A. The microtubules disassemble and none are left in the cell fragment
B. The plus ends of the severed microtubules grow through the plasma membrane of the
cell body and cell fragment and reconnect to the minus ends of the severed
microtubules
C. The two cell fragments fuse to reform a single cell and the plus ends of the severed
microtubules reconnect to the minus ends of the severed microtubules
D. The microtubules in the cell fragment rearrange so that the minus ends are in
the center of the fragment and the plus ends extend out toward the edges
E. The result differs in different experiments, sometimes A occurs and sometimes C
occurs.

23. In a myosin V protein, the leading head ejects the inorganic phosphate but does not
undergo the power-‐stroke until what happens?

A. ADP is released from the leading head.
B. ATP binds the leading head.
C. The inorganic phosphate is ejected from the trailing head.
D. The trailing head binds the actin filament.
E. The trailing head releases from the actin filament.

6
24. In lecture we discussed an experiment that utilized a plastic bead coated with the
ActA protein. What conclusion did we come to based on the results of that
experiment?

A. Polymerization of actin is sufficient to move a membrane
B. Myosin V motor heads have a 72nm step size
C. ATP hydrolysis by actin provides the energy required to move a membrane
D. Stress fibers are involved in moving Lysteria
E. ActA is a motor protein that is necessary for movement of Lysteria

25. You are studying a human macrophage that is crawling (this movement is also
sometimes called referred to as locomotion) along a substrate in vitro. Assume that
there is only one type of myosin II protein involved in this movement and that you
have developed an siRNA that is effective against this myosin in this cell type. If you
add your siRNA to a moving cell, what do you expect to be effected first?

A. Extension of the lamellopodium
B. Inhibition of stress fiber function
C. No effect on either A or B
D. A simultaneous inhibition of both A and B

26. There are approximatley 210 types of cells in the human body. Approximately how
many different types of intermediate filament proteins are encoded in the human
genome?

A. 2
B. 10
C. 25
D. 50
E. 210

27. Alpha-‐helical coiled-‐coil regions are found in which of the following proteins?

A. Actin filaments
C. Microtubules
D. Both A and B
E. All of the above

7
28. In lecture we discussed a version of the figure below. What is the structures or
proteins indicated by the white arrow?

A. Actin filaments
C. Microtubules
D. Transverse tubules
E. Sarcoplasmic reticulum

8
The diagram below was discussed in lecture. Answer the next 2 questions based on
this figure.

29. X and Y point to different structures. What is the name of the structure labeled Y?

A. Endoplasmic reticulum
B. Sarcoplasmic reticulum
C. T-‐tubule
D. Golgi
E. Lysosome

30. Which structure serves as a storage site for Ca++?

A. X
B. Y
C. Z
D. All of the above

9

31. In lecture we discussed a technique known as speckle microscopy. What did the
specific speckle microscopy experiment we discussed reveal?

A. Actin filaments move relative to myosin filaments during muscle contraction
B. Myosin filaments move relative to actin filaments during muscle contraction
C. Actin filaments can treadmill in vivo
D. Actin filaments assemble only when the initial concentration of actin monomers if
above the critical concentration for both the plus and minus ends
E. Actin filaments can grow at both the plus and minus ends

32. Which types of cytoskeletal filaments undergo dynamic instability?

A. Actin filaments
C. Microtubules
D. Both A and B
E. All of the above

33. Cdc42 triggers activation of which of the following?

A. WASP
B. WAVE
C. Formin
D. Both A and B
E. All of the above

34. Which of the following are AAA-‐ATPase family members (or contain a domain that is
an AAA-‐ATPase)?

A. The 26 S proteasome cap
B. Dyneins
C. Katanin
D. Both B and C
E. All of the above

10
35. The EM micrograph below could be a cross-‐section of which structures?

A. A Centriole
B. A Basal Body
C. An Axonene
D. Both A and B
E. All of the above

36. γ-‐tubulin is found in:

A. Centrioles
B. Basal Bodies
C. The PCM
D. Both A and B
E. All of the above

37. Consider a dimeric kinesin protein that is moving processively along a microtubule.
At one point in time, one head is in the Apo form, the other has ADP bound to it.
Which of the following is TRUE?

i = the head with ADP bound is the leading head.
ii = the neck is not bound to the leading head.

A. Both i and ii are TRUE.
B. i is TRUE and ii is FALSE.
C. i is FALSE and ii is TRUE.
D. Both i and ii are FALSE.

11
38. What acts as a “map” that the cell uses to move cellular components from the center
of the cell toward the edges of the cell and from the outer parts of the cytoplasm
toward the center of the cell?

A. The actin cytoskeleton
B. The intermediate filament cytoskeleton
C. The microtubule cytoskeleton
D. The ATP gradient formed by the mitochondria
E. Both A and B

39. Some family members of which type of proteins have “threading” activity

A. Myosins
B. Kinesins
C. AAA ATPase family members
D. Dynactin
E. Spectrin

40. In lecture we talked about various species of animals (cuttle fish, octopi, etc) that can
change the color of their skin in response to their environment or in response to
other organisms (such as males of the same species). Which of the following proteins
are involved in that response?

A. Dynein(s)
B. Kinesin(s)
C. Myosin(s)
D. Both A and B
E. All of the above

41. Chromosomes are most highly condensed (most tightly packaged) in which stage(s)
of the cell cycle?

A. G1
B. S
C. G2
D. M
E. Both A and C

12
42. You have become fascinated with the notion that actin filaments can undergo
treadmilling, and perform the following experiment. You carry out an in vitro actin
assembly reaction on a microscope slide and let it go to equilibrium (assume your
reaction has an excess supply of ATP. You decide to watch the behavior of a single
actin filament in your reaction. At time t = 0 in the diagram below you begin to
watch the filament shown in the figure below. In this figure + and – indicate the plus
and minus ends of your filament. Panels A-‐E in the figure below are possible
outcomes indicating the relative length and position of your filament after 1 minute.
The length and position of the filaments relative to the filament at t = 0 is as
described to the right of each panel. Which panel below correctly describes the
result expected for this experiment?

Filament same length
Filament positioned to the right

Filament longer
Plus end at same position, -‐ end further to the right

Filament positioned to the left

Filament longer
Minus end at same position, + end further to the left

Plus and minus ends at same position

ANSWER TO #42 = C

43. Actin related protein(s) are found in which of the following?

A. The protein complex that is the target of Lysteria ActA protein
B. The “hubs” that connect to ankyrin-‐spectrin structures in Red Blood Cells
C. Some chromatin remodeling complexes
D. Both A and B
E. All of the above
*ACCEPT ALL ANSWERS
13
44. The “poisoned polymer” model can (most specifically) explain the action of which
type of allele(s).

A. The allele(s) of tumor suppressor genes that contribute to cancer
B. The allele(s) of oncogenes genes that contribute to cancer
C. Loss of function alleles
D. Dominant negative alleles
E. Both A and C

45. Which term below most accurately identifies the set of three proteins labeled X as
indicated by the arrows?

A. Adaptins
B. Connectins
C. Attachins
D. ERM family members
E. Spectrin, Ankyrin and Arp1

46. Which type of protein or structure is shown in the figure below?

A. An actin filament
B. An intermediate filament
C. A microtubule
D. A myosin bundle
E. A kinesin bundle
14
A version of the figure shown below was discussed in lecture. Answer the following
question based on this figure and our discussion.

47. We discussed the idea that something was wrong about this figure. What was it?

A. The protein labeled X should nucleate branched actin filament assembly
B. Motor proteins should be attached to the actin filaments and the membrane labeled
W
C. The end of the actin filaments labeled Z should be pointed toward the
membrane W
D. The protein labeled X should be located at the position on the membrane labeled W
(the opposite side of the membrane as it is located in this figure)
E. Both A and D

15
48. In lecture we discussed the figure below. The square region is a version of a test tube
or small square chamber that is approximately the size of a cell. What was the
outcome of this particular in vitro reaction?

A. One or more chromosomes moved away from the structure labeled X.
B. One or more chromosomes moved toward the structure labeled X.
C. One or more organelles moved away from the structure labeled X.
D. One or more organelles moved toward the structure labeled X.
E. The structure labeled X moved to the center of the chamber.

49. In lecture, we discussed the fact that actin is a highly conserved protein. Which of
the following was part of the rationale given for why it makes sense that actin is
highly conserved?

A. Actin is an ATPase.
B. Actin is found in many organisms.
C. Many protein families interact with actin.
D. Actin is critical for muscle function.
E. All of the above
*ACCEPT ALL ANSWERS

50. The length of which region of myosin determines the step size?

A. The length of the head region
B. The length of the neck/lever arm
C. The length of the tail
D. As discussed in lecture, although we know that different myosin family member
take different step sizes, we do not yet have a molecular explanation for how they
take different size steps.

16
51. Which of the following proteins appeared at the time in evolution that animals
with soft exteriors appeared?

A. Actin
B. Myosin V
C. Myosin II
D. Keratins
E. Lamins

52. Which of the following does not require one or more motor proteins for
movement?

A. Muscle contraction
B. Contraction of a contractile bundle that is part of a stress fiber
C. Cytoplasmic streaming
D. Movement of Lysteria in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells
E. All of the above require one or more motor proteins

53. What role does ATP hydrolysis play in actin filament biology?

A. ATP hydrolysis provides the energy required for polymerization
B. ATP hydrolysis in an actin subunit within a filament results in the immediate
dissociation of that subunit from the filament
C. As a result of ATP hydrolysis, the plus end and minus end of the filament are
chemically different
D. Hydrolysis of ATP by actin provides the energy that moves myosin motors
E. Both A and D

17
54. Match the protein with its corresponding activity:

Protein
i = thymosin β4
ii = profilin
iii = cofilin

Activity
X = promotes disassembly of actin filaments
Y = sequesters actin monomers
Z = act as a nucleotide exchange factor for actin

A. i = X, ii = Y, iii = Z
B. i = X, ii = Z, iii = Y
C. i = Y, ii = X, iii = Z
D. i = Y, ii = Z, iii = X
E. I = Z, ii = Y, iii = X

55. As described in lecture, sheets of cells can be converted into:

A. Tubes
B. Balls
C. Tubular solid structures
D. Both A and B
E. All of the above

18

You have purified an uncharacterized actin protein found in mouse macrophages (a
motile type of blood cell). You start with an in vitro solution of monomers of your
purified protein in a buffer that lacks ATP and Mg++. The concentration of your
monomers in the solution is 100 µM. You perform two separate experiments on
different samples of your actin solution. In the first you add Mg++ and AMPPNP (as
the only nucleotide) to your solution and allow it to go to equilibrium. At equilibrium
99% of the actin is F-‐actin. You repeat the same experiment only this time you add
Mg++ and ADP (as the only nucleotide). At equilibrium you find that 90% of the actin
is F-‐actin.

56. What is the critical concentration of the plus end of filaments formed by your
newly identified actin?

A. 1 µ M
B. 2 µM
C. 5 µM
D. 10 µM
E. 50 µM

57. What is the critical concentration of the minus end of filaments formed by your
newly identified actin?

A. 1 µM
B. 2 µM
C. 5 µM
D. 10 µ M
E. 50 µM

19
58. In lecture we discussed the two experiments corresponding to the figures below.

Figure 1 Figure 2

The data plotted in figure 1 corresponds to which “stage” of figure 2?

A. A
B. B
C. C
D. All of the above

20
59. In lecture, we discussed a version of the figure below.

Which of the following statements is TRUE about the motor heads labeled X and Y?

A. Both heads X and Y are in the pre-‐powerstroke conformation.
B. Head X is in the pre-‐powerstroke conformation and head Y is in the post-‐
powerstroke conformation.
C. Head X is in the post-‐powerstroke conformation and head Y is in the pre-‐
powerstroke conformation
D. Both heads X and Y are in the post-‐powerstroke conformation.

21
60. A version of the diagram below was presented in lecture as part of our discussion
on laser tweezers and optical traps. In this diagram, which direction will the bead
move?

A. North
B. South
C. East
D. West

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