Question

A protein that is destined to reach the plasma membrane is making its way through the Golgi. At that moment, a drug was added to cells, blocking trafficking at the trans face of the Golgi. As a result, what would happen to the protein?

Answer 1

Answer:

The membrane protein would remain in Golgi complex and would not be targeted to plasma membrane.

Explanation:

Proteins are synthesized at the surface of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex coordinate for protein targeting. Proteins formed on the rough ER are packed in transport vesicles that bud off from the surface of rough endoplasmic reticulum and fuse with cis-cisternae of the Golgi complex. Once inside the lumen of the Golgi complex, the proteins are being modified and folded.

The membrane proteins are again packed in vesicles that bud off from the trans-cisternae of Golgi complex and fuse with the plasma membrane to release the proteins. In the presence of the drug that disrupts protein targeting at the trans-face of the Golgi complex, the membrane protein would not be transported to the membrane and would remain in the Golgi complex only.