In bottom sediments of lakes and streams, organic matter is broken down by heterotrophic microorganisms and ammonia is released. Under aerobic conditions, specialized bacteria convert ammonia to nitrate (nitrification). This nitrate, together with nitrate from other sources, diffuses into the deeper sediments, where it may undergo anaerobic conversion to nitrogen gas (denitrification). These sediments typically contain oligochaete worms that live with their heads buried and their tails waving back and forth in the overlying water. Plastic columns were packed with freshly collected  stream  sediments  and  then  covered  with  layers  of  nitrate enriched  water.  A  similar  set  of  columns  was packed with sediment that had been sterilized and then covered with either nitrate-enriched water or distilled water. Oligochaete  worms  were  collected  and  acclimated  to  20°(C)Following  acclimation,  worms  were  rinsed  in  distilled water and then added to three sediment columns. The columns were incubated in the dark at 20°C and monitored every three days for changes in the concentration of nitrate in the overlying water. Nitrate concentrations in each of the experimental treatments were plotted against time, as shown in the graph below.

Which of the following explains why the columns were incubated in the dark?

#Question id: 1230

#Unit 4. Cell Communication and Cell Signaling

Which of the following events occur(s) following the binding of a ligand to a G protein–coupled receptor that triggers release of Ca2+?

a. activation of protein kinase A by IP3

b. phospholipase cleavage of PIP2 to IP3 and DAG

c. release of DAG into the cytosol

d. IP3-mediated opening of Ca2+ channels in the ER membrane

#Question id: 1231

#Unit 4. Cell Communication and Cell Signaling

Arrange the following events in the proper order in which they occur during transduction of the TGFβ signal:

a. association of Smad3 and Smad4  

b. phosphorylation of TGFβ receptor I by TGFβ receptor II            

c. phosphorylation of Smad3 by TGFβ receptor I     

d. nuclear import of Smad3   

e. binding of TGFβ to TGFβ receptor II  

#Question id: 1232

#Unit 4. Cell Communication and Cell Signaling

Which of the following mutations might confer a competitive advantage to an athlete by raising his or her hematocrit?

a. excess production of erythropoietin                       

b. decreased production of erythropoietin

c. EpoR that cannot bind STAT5                  

d. EpoR that cannot bind SHP1

e. EpoR that cannot bind JAK2

#Question id: 1232

#Unit 1. Structure and Function of Biomolecules

Which of the following mutations might confer a competitive advantage to an athlete by raising his or her hematocrit?

a. excess production of erythropoietin                       

b. decreased production of erythropoietin

c. EpoR that cannot bind STAT5                  

d. EpoR that cannot bind SHP1

e. EpoR that cannot bind JAK2

#Question id: 1233

#Unit 4. Cell Communication and Cell Signaling

Transphosphorylation (cross-phosphorylation) of receptor tyrosine kinases

a. inhibits catalytic activity.

b. promotes transphosphorylation of additional tyrosine residues.

c. triggers release of the ligand.

d. generates binding sites for signaling molecules.

#Question id: 1234

#Unit 4. Cell Communication and Cell Signaling

Which of the following mutations would likely have a similar cancer-promoting effect as the RasD mutation?

a. mutation in Grb2 so that it cannot bind Sos

b. mutation in Sos so that it binds Ras independent of Grb2

c. mutation in GAP so that it cannot bind Ras

d. mutation in EGF receptor so that it binds GRB2 independent of EGF