Cell surface molecules are labeled with a fluorescent tag and then a portion of them are bleached with a laser beam.What would one observe after the cell is incubated for a few minutes?
A)The bleached molecules would disappear into the cell.
B)The bleached molecules would diffuse laterally through the membrane and intermix with unbleached molecules.
C)The bleached molecules would remain in the spot where bleaching occurred.
D)All the bleached molecules would flip-flop across the cell membrane.
E)The bleached molecules would be released from the cell.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

After bleaching a portion of the cell surface molecules, the bleached molecules would diffuse laterally through the membrane and intermix with unbleached molecules over time. This process is known as fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) and is commonly used to study the dynamics of cell surface molecules. Option A and Option E are not correct as bleached molecules would not disappear into the cell or be released from the cell. Option C is not correct as the bleached molecules would not remain in the spot where bleaching occurred. Option D is not correct as all the bleached molecules would not flip-flop across the cell membrane.

Cell Surface Molecules Are Labeled with a Fluorescent Tag and Then