Question

Scientists have found that the disease known as Alzheimers is linked to the accumulation of misfolded proteins in cells. These proteins are capable of causing cell and tissue damage. Which two organelles should scientists first investigate to learn more about this buildup of misfolded proteins?
A.
The scientists should investigate the endoplasmic reticulum to see how often it is misfolding proteins, and the lysosomes to see the rate at which they are removing misfolded proteins.

B.
The scientists should investigate the ribosomes to see the rate at which they are synthesizing proteins, and the cell membrane to see what type of cell damage has occurred.

C.
The scientists should investigate the cell membrane to see how often it lets misfolded proteins into the cell, and the cell wall to see what type of damage has been done to the cell.

D.
The scientists should investigate the cell wall to see how often it lets misfolded proteins into the cell, and the mitochondria to see if it is providing enough energy for the lysosomes to digest the misfolded proteins.

Answers

GPT-4o mini
The correct answer is:

**A. The scientists should investigate the endoplasmic reticulum to see how often it is misfolding proteins, and the lysosomes to see the rate at which they are removing misfolded proteins.**

This option makes the most sense because the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is responsible for the proper folding of proteins. If there are issues in the ER, it could lead to an accumulation of misfolded proteins. Meanwhile, lysosomes are involved in the degradation and recycling of cellular waste, including misfolded proteins. Studying both the ER and lysosomes could provide insights into the mechanisms of protein misfolding and the subsequent buildup that is linked to Alzheimer's disease.

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