Alcohol consumption adversely affects the synthesis of molecules involved in protein degradation, which can eventually lead to liver damage. Given this information, which organelle in liver cells is most directly affected by alcohol consumption?

Question

A.  Golgi apparatus
B.  Nucleus
C.  Lysosome
D.  Rough endoplasmic reticulum

Clarify Question
· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
· What type of thinking is required?
· What key words does the question contain and what do they mean?
 
Gather Content
· What do you know about where lysosome proteins are made? How does it relate to the question?
 
Consider Possibilities
· What other information is related to the question? Which information is most useful?

Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?

Reflect on Process
· Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?

Answer 1

D.  Rough endoplasmic reticulum

Clarify Question
· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
        o The question asks about the organelle involved in making enzymes used in protein degradation.
· What type of thinking is required?
        o You are being asked to apply your knowledge of the function of organelles to explain how alcohol can block the production of enzymes used to break down proteins.
· What key words does the question contain and what do they mean?
        o Synthesis of molecules involved in protein degradation – proteins are broken down in a cell by enzymes found in the lysosome.  These enzymes are made in the endoplasmic reticulum and transported to the lysosome.
 
Gather Content
· What do you know about where lysosome proteins are made? How does it relate to the question?
        o The enzymes in the endoplasmic reticulum are made in the endoplasmic reticulum and transported to the lysosome.  Once in the lysosome these enzymes can break down proteins.
 
Consider Possibilities
· What other information is related to the question? Which information is most useful?
        o The key to this question is that alcohol blocks the synthesis of the enzymes used in protein degradation.

Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?
        o The best answer is that alcohol blocks the endoplasmic reticulum from producing enzymes that move to the lysosome to degrade proteins.  A common mistake would be to choose the lysosome, and if the question had stated that alcohol blocked the molecules involved in protein degradation this would be correct.  However, the question states that alcohol blocks the synthesis of these molecules which occurs in the endoplasmic reticulum.

Reflect on Process
· Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?
        o This question asked you to apply your understanding of where lysosomal proteins are made to explain the effect of alcohol on the liver. If you got the correct answer, great job! If you got an incorrect answer, where did the process break down? Did you miss that the question was asking where the synthesis of enzymes involved in protein degradation was occurring?  Did you think that alcohol was inhibiting the enzymes themselves and not their synthesis?  Did you recall that proteins are made in the endoplasmic reticulum?