Question

You are working on a team that is designing a new drug. For this drug to work, it must enter the cytoplasm of specific target cells. Which of the following would be a factor that determines whether the molecule selectively enters the target cells? the similarity of the drug molecule to other molecules that are transported into the target cells the phospholipid composition of the target cells’ plasma membrane the nonpolar, hydrophobic nature of the drug molecule the concentration of the drug molecule that is transported in the blood

Answer 1

the similarity of the drug molecule to other molecules that are transported into the target cells

Step-by-step explanation:

Selective transport of the substance occurs when the plasma membrane allows only selective substances to pass through it while inhibiting the transport of other molecules. Charge, polarity, size of the substances to be transported and the presence /absence of carriers and channels in the plasma membrane are some of the factors that determine which substance would cross the plasma membrane.

If a drug is required to enter the cytoplasm of the target cell, it should be similar to the other substances that can enter the cell. The drug should have nearly identical charge, polarity, structure, size, etc. as that of the permitted substances to enter the cell. For example, a drug similar to glucose can enter the cells that have Glut transporters in their plasma membrane.