In: Chemistry
A mammalian cell nucleus contains 4.0 x 10 ^ 3 molecules of protein X (molecular weight 6.0 x 10 ^4). Assume the nucleus is a sphere with diameter of 5.0 microns. Calculate the following: A) the molarity of protein X in the nucleus B) the mass (in grams) of protein X in one nucleus. Please show work.
A) The diameter of the spherical cell is 5.0 µ 5.0 µm = (5.0 µ)*(1 m/106 µm)*(100 cm/1 m) = 5.0*10-4 cm; therefore, radius of the sphere is r = ½*(5.0*10-4 cm) = 2.5*10-4 cm.
Volume of the spherical cell is V = 4/3*π*r3 = 4/3*(3.14)*(2.5*10-4 cm)3 = 6.54167*10-11 cm3 = (6.54167*10-11 cm3)*(1 mL/1 cm3) = 6.54167*10-11 mL = (6.54167*10-11 mL)*(1 L/1000 mL) = 6.54167*10-14 L.
Next, find the number of moles of protein X in the nucleus. We know that 1 mole of any substance = 6.023*1023 molecules of that substance.
Therefore, moles of protein X = (4.0*103 molecules)*(1 mole/6.023*1023 molecules) = 6.64121*10-21 mole.
Molar concentration of protein X = (moles of protein X)/(volume of cell) = (6.64121*10-21 mole)/(6.54167*10-14 L) = 1.0152*10-7 mol/L = (1.0152*10-7 mol/L)*(106 µmol/1 mol) = 0.10152 µM (1 mol/L = 1 M) (ans).
B) We have 6.64121*10-21 mole of protein X; the molecular mass of protein X = (6.64121*10-21 mol)*(6.0*104 g/mol) = 3.984726*10-16 g ≈ 3.98*10-16 g (ans).