Opines in crown gall tumors Which opine classes can be present in plant crown gall tissues induced by Agrobacterium?
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AOctopine
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BNopaline
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CAgropine
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DAll of these
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EOnly amino acids produced by normal plant metabolism
Answer
Correct Answer: All of these
Explanation
Introduction / Context:Opines are unusual amino acid–derived compounds synthesized by T-DNA-transformed plant cells. Their profiles (octopine, nopaline, agropine, and related types) help classify Ti plasmids and confirm successful Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Recognizing opine diversity is important for diagnostics and historical understanding of Ti plasmid biology.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Crown gall tissues carry integrated T-DNA expressing opine synthase genes.
- Different Ti plasmid types encode different opine synthases.
- Question asks which opines can be present overall, not in a single tumor simultaneously.
Concept / Approach:Octopine-type Ti plasmids drive octopine synthesis; nopaline-type produce nopaline; agropine-type produce agropine and sometimes related opines. Hence, across crown gall cases, all these opines are encountered. Each opine type reflects the plasmid carried by the infecting Agrobacterium strain.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Identify opine classes: octopine, nopaline, agropine.Recall linkage: opine type ↔ Ti plasmid genotype.Note that the question asks inclusively about crown gall tissues in general.Select “All of these.”Verification / Alternative check:Paper chromatography and later HPLC analyses of tumor extracts historically distinguished octopine vs nopaline tumors, establishing the correlation between opine profile and Ti plasmid type.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- Single opine choices ignore diversity across strains.
- Normal plant amino acids: opines are novel conjugates not made by untransformed tissues.
Common Pitfalls:Assuming a single tumor makes multiple unrelated opines; typically, the opine profile reflects the infecting plasmid type, not a mixture from all classes.
Final Answer:All of these