The human AFP gene encodes alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), a major plasma protein produced by the yolk sac and the liver during fetal life. Your lab discovers that AFP protein is only found in fetal livers and not present in adult livers. It is known that the transcription factor Foxa1 is an activator of the AFP gene.

How would you test fetal liver and adult liver samples for the presence of Foxa1 protein? What two techniques could you use to measure this?

Your tests show that Foxa1 protein is abundant in both fetal and adult liver cells. Propose and describe an epigenetic mechanism that explains how AFP expression is regulated in human liver cells throughout development.

Based on this proposed model, what is one way doctors might try to activate AFP expression in adult livers via a noninvasive recommendation or procedure?

Design an experiment with proper controls to test whether your treatment/recommendation initiates AFP expression via your proposed epigenetic mechanism. (feel free to look up the names of techniques that can measure epigenetic markers).

Question

The human AFP gene encodes alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), a major plasma protein produced by the yolk sac and the liver during fetal life. Your lab discovers that AFP protein is only found in fetal livers and not present in adult livers. It is known that the transcription factor Foxa1 is an activator of the AFP gene.

How would you test fetal liver and adult liver samples for the presence of Foxa1 protein? What two techniques could you use to measure this?

Your tests show that Foxa1 protein is abundant in both fetal and adult liver cells. Propose and describe an epigenetic mechanism that explains how AFP expression is regulated in human liver cells throughout development.

Based on this proposed model, what is one way doctors might try to activate AFP expression in adult livers via a noninvasive recommendation or procedure?

Design an experiment with proper controls to test whether your treatment/recommendation initiates AFP expression via your proposed epigenetic mechanism. (feel free to look up the names of techniques that can measure epigenetic markers).

		The mutation changes the number of domains in the enzyme, which makes it work more efficiently
		The mutation changes the amino acid sequence of the lactase protein
		The mutation increases the number of copies of the lactase gene that will be found in your genome
		The mutation changes whether the lactase sequence is found in an intron or exon
		The mutation affects the expression of the lactase gene

		The substrate will increase the reaction rate by binding to the allosteric site
		The substrate will increase the reaction rate by competing with the inhibitor for the active site
		The reaction rate will not change unless the inhibitor can be removed
		The enzyme adjusts its shape so that the substrate, but NOT the competitive inhibitor, can bind
		The substrate will bind to the competitive inhibitor and block its ability to bind to the enzyme

		Transcription regulators bind to the 5' UTR region of a gene
		Regulators bind via complementary base-pairing to certain DNA molecules
		Covalent bonds form between the transcription regulator and the atoms of the DNA backbone
		Every eukaryotic gene has a different transcription regulator that will bind to the 5' end of the gene
		Transcription regulators bind to specific DNA sequences via multiple weak non-covalent interactions

		DNA -> RNA -> protein
		All cells arise from pre-existing cells
		DNA provides the complete instructions to create a cell
		The identity of a cell is determined through gene expression patterns
		All cells contain the same four basic macromolecules

		Using both an activator and repressor enables cells to more accurately determine the amount of lactose available in the environment
		Enzymes to digest lactose are only made when energy is low and lactose is available
		The activator can override the inhibition of the lac operon by the repressor
		The repressor can control the enhancer, while the activator can control the promoter
		When neither the lac activator or repressor is present, expression of the lac operon is too high

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