Practice question · Estimate
A nuclear pore allows free diffusion below about 40 kDa, which is why a larger protein needs a signal and energy to get in. A protein of 70 kDa needs that help. Set the ratio of that protein’s mass to the diffusion limit, to one decimal place.
Estimate on a scale from Well under the limit (0) to Five times the limit (5).
Hints
- Divide the protein mass by the size limit for free diffusion.
- Compute 70 divided by 40.
Show the answer
1.75 (answers within ±0.2 count)
Why
times the limit, so this protein needs a nuclear localisation signal and active transport. The cut-off is soft rather than sharp, but the principle is strict: large cargo requires a signal and energy.
Practise The Cell Nucleus
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