8. Your research lab is interested in studying how lysosomes are transported and mature in neurons. Specifically, lysosomes start out as endosome and become more acidic as they mature into lysosomes, which contain active acidic hydrolases. In neurons, endosomes that originate at the axon terminus (far from the cell body) likely mature into lysosomes through retrograde transport from the axon terminus toward the cell body. Your central hypothesis is that maturation of lysosomes along this transport route requires (i) motor proteins; (ii) cytoskeletal proteins; and (iii) acidification of the lysosome. Propose an experiment that would directly address each of these three points using molecular and/or pharmacological manipulations. Be very specific: name and describe the molecular method and/or the specific names/targets of pharmacological manipulations that you propose, and be sure to note specifically which part of the hypothesis you are testing with each manipulation.
8. Your research lab is interested in studying how lysosomes are transported and mature in neurons. Specifically, lysosomes start out as endosome and become more acidic as they mature into lysosomes, which contain active acidic hydrolases. In neurons, endosomes that originate at the axon terminus (far from the cell body) likely mature into lysosomes through retrograde transport from the axon terminus toward the cell body. Your central hypothesis is that maturation of lysosomes along this transport route requires (i) motor proteins; (ii) cytoskeletal proteins; and (iii) acidification of the lysosome. Propose an experiment that would directly address each of these three points using molecular and/or pharmacological manipulations. Be very specific: name and describe the molecular method and/or the specific names/targets of pharmacological manipulations that you propose, and be sure to note specifically which part of the hypothesis you are testing with each manipulation.
