Question

imagine you are a biologist studying a protein that is involved in cell division. in its active form, the protein is phosphorylated. how does the active form of the protein likely differ from the inactive form? select the two best answers. the active form has phosphodiester bonds between each amino acid rather than peptide bonds. the active form is transcribed from a different gene than the inactive form. the active form has negatively charged phosphate groups covalently attached to it while the inactive form does not. the active form has a different tertiary structure than the inactive form.

Explanation:

1. Analyze the first option: Peptide bonds link amino acids in proteins; phosphodiester bonds are in nucleic acids. So this is incorrect.
2. Analyze the second option: The same gene typically produces the protein; phosphorylation (not a different gene) causes activation. So this is incorrect.
3. Analyze the third option: Phosphorylation adds phosphate groups (negative charge) to proteins, activating them. So this is correct.
4. Analyze the fourth option: Phosphorylation can change a protein’s tertiary structure (shape), affecting activity. So this is correct.

Answer:

C. The active form has negatively charged phosphate groups covalently attached to it while the inactive form does not.
D. The active form has a different tertiary structure than the inactive form.