Question

You are a mad scientist that created a transgenic mouse line with a mutation in a protein that you call the Hulk protein. Hulk mutations lead to really muscular mice due to an overgrowth of muscles via uncontrolled muscle cell growth. Which of the following types of mutation would be expected to produce this phenotype? a mutation that inhibits protein synthesis a mutation that prevents the dephosphorylation of Akt a mutation that prevents Tor phosphorylation a mutation that prevents Tor from binding to rapamycin

Answer 1

TOR (or Target of Rapamycin) is a kinase which plays an important role in cell growth and proliferation. It is inhibited by a bacterial drug, rapamycin which can further slow down cell proliferation. The activity of TOR can be slowed by its phosphorylation. Hence, any mutation which can inhibit TOR's phosphorylation, may lead to excessive cell proliferation.

Option (c) is correct.