Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-biochemistry-and-molecular-biology-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2025/paper-2/section-b/13/f/solution

mTOR has the supplied molecular mass of about , so optimize the separation and transfer for a much larger protein. Use a suitably low-percentage or gradient SDS-PAGE gel and high-mass markers, and verify efficient transfer with a protocol appropriate for large proteins, such as optimized wet transfer. Probe with a validated phospho-mTOR reagent and measure total mTOR in parallel. The broad Ras-PST25 reagent cannot be assumed to recognize a useful site on mTOR merely because it recognizes other pathway proteins. Include a positive pathway control and a suitable inhibition or phosphatase control; a missing band on the existing blot could reflect poor separation or transfer rather than absent mTOR phosphorylation.

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