Question

Pathogen response (PR) proteins are produced by plants to defend themselves against pathogens. In the absence of pathogens, repressors block the production of PR proteins. Genes encoding PR proteins are regulated indirectly by ethylene, which is released in response to pathogen attack. Receptor molecules on the endoplasmic reticulum bind ethylene and cause the repressors to be nonfunctional. If you wanted to artifically increase the production of PR molecules, which of the following might work?

a	block the function of repressor proteins
b	block the ability of receptor molecules to bind ethylene
c	prevent ethylene from binding repressor molecules
d	block production of ethylene

Answer 1

Ethylene is the plant hormone produced in response to pathogenic attack on plants. The plants produce PR proteins against pathogens. Repressors block the production of PR proteins in absence of pathogens. Synthesis of PR proteins is initiated by binding of receptor molecules on the endoplasmic reticulum to ethylene and cause the repressors to be nonfunctional. The artificial production of PR proteins is therefore increased by blocking function of repressor proteins. Option a is correct.