Question

A phagocytic cell has a mutation in a gene for a hydrolytic enzyme that renders the enzyme nonfunctional. What is the most likely effect of the mutation when this phagocytic cell ingests a pathogen

Answer 1

Answer: The phagocyte’s ability to destroy the ingested pathogen is compromised and it will become inactive.

Explanation:

There are different hydrolytic enzymes. Lysozyme attacks cell walls of gram positive bacteria. Elastase is a protease. Collagenase attacks collagen, produced by some bacteria. Plasminogen activator is also a protease.

Loss of function of any one of these enzymes will reduce or prevent the breakdown of bacteria in the phagosome (vacuole) so that the phagocyte is inactivated.