Overview
Imagine that you are inside a white blood cell (leukocyte) that is part of the body’s defense system (the immune system). As this cell is activated to make proteins for defense, the molecule DNA must be used as a template for the code that will be used to make the correct protein. DNA is a polar molecule, as is this particular protein. Answer the following questions about this scenario.
How will water interact with the DNA and this protein once it is completed and ready to send out of the cell?
What kinds of bonds will be present (and why those particular bonds) between the:
- Strands of the DNA molecule – between the nitrogenous bases such as Adenine and Thymine?
- “Backbone” of the DNA molecule – the sugar and phosphate that hold the bases firmly to the DNA strand?
Molecules of the protein – the amino acids (before folding happens)?
- What will happen to the DNA and protein if the pH of the cell were to suddenly drop to 2.0?
- Don’t forget to begin with a short introduction to the question and end with a short summary about water, bonding, and pH.