Pulse-chase experiments and protein locationScientists can track the movement of proteins through the endomembrane system using an approach known as a pulse-chase experiment. This experiment involvesthe "pulse" phase: Cells are exposed to a high concentration of a radioactively labeled amino acid for a short period to tag proteins that are being synthesized.the "chase" phase: Any unincorporated radioactively labeled amino acids are washed away and large amounts of the same, but unlabeled, amino acid are added.Only those proteins synthesized during the brief pulse phase are radioactively tagged. These tagged proteins can be tracked through the chase period to determine their location in the cell.The data below were obtained from a pulse-chase experiment in which cells were examined at different times during the chase period. The numbers represent the radioactivity (measured in counts per minute) recorded at each of the indicated sites. The higher the number, the greater the radioactivity.Based on these data, what is the most likely function of the cells in this experiment?A. secretionB. phagocytosisC. detoxificationD. muscle contraction

Some substances enter the cell via active and passive transport, others, however, are not able to use this transport route. In such cases, they may be encompassed by the cell in a process known as endocytosis. One type of endocytosis is called phagocytosis. In this process, the cell captures a relatively large solid particle through cytoplasmic extensions called pseudopods. The particle is then encompassed and becomes part of the cell cytoplasm, an example of which is the labeled amino acid used in the experiment shown in the question. At this stage, the ingested material is completely surrounded by a membrane, forming the so-called phagosome.