Question

1. Many species of worms (or helminthes) are parasitic to humans. One method of treatment for worms is to take the drug levamisole. Levamisole is a drug that mimics (or acts the same as) acetylcholine for post- synaptic acetylcholine receptors at worm neuromuscular junctions. What happens to worm muscles after exposure to levamisole? (One-two sentences) 2. The biotech company Amgen has a drug in early clinical trials that is designed to treat cancers caused by activating mutations in the proto-oncogene KRAS. Is this drug likely to inhibit or promote KRAS function? Why? (answer in terms of activity/activation and inactivating/inactivation of the protein, one-two sentences).

Answer 1

1. Action of levamisole on muscles of worms- This chemical drug in general inhibits the enzymatic activity in the muscles of worm thereby preventing formation of fumarate to succinate. This leads to paralysis in later stage

2. KRAS acts as mutant oncogenes and hence it drives the cancer progression. In order to restrict its growth, it is essential to inhibit it.