Chapter 4, Problem 1ITD

Summary Introduction

To review:

The investigators studying the protein changes during aging examined the enzyme activity in the cells extracted from the Caenorhabditis elegans, a nematode worm. The cell extracts were then treated to conserve the enzymatic activity. Although, the investigators noted that some of the proteins were broken down by the process of extraction. The centrifugation of the extracts was performed and seven fractions were collected for isolating the location of the protease enzyme activity, the enzyme called cathepsins. The fraction and the eukaryotic cellular structure in which the enzymatic activity is most active.

Introduction:

The Caenorhabditis elegans is a transparent nematode, which is free-living and it is approximately 1mm (millimeter) in length. It resides mostly in the temperate soil environments. It is the unsegmented pseudocoelomate and also does not have respiratory systems. The males have a special tail and spicules are present on the tail for mating purpose.