You believe a bacterium is attaching to animal cells by bind

You believe a bacterium is attaching to animal cells by binding to the carbohydrate portion of a specific glycoprotein. To test this hypothesis you pre-incubate the bacteria with various molecules and then test for inhibition of attachment to the animal cells. Which result supports the hypothesis that the bacteria recognize the carbohydrate component of the animal glycoprotein? See Section 5.3. Pretreatment with the protein component alone prevents bacteria attachment to the animal cells. Pretreatment with the entire glycoprotein allows bacteria attachment to the animal cells. Pretreatment with the carbohydrate component alone prevents bacteria attachment to the animal cells. Pretreatment with the entire glycoprotein prevents bacteria attachment to the animal cells.

Solution

The third option is the most appropriate choice. The glycoprotein has both carbohydrate (glycan) and protein moieties. If we have to prove that the bacteria binds specifically to the carbohydrate component of a glycoprotein, then we should be able to demonstrate that \"pretreatment with the carbohydrate component alone prevents bacteria attachment to the animal cells\". The bacterial attachment sites will bind the carbohydrates during pretreatment and will not be able to bind carbohydrate component of animal cells\' surface glycoproteins, disallowing bacterial attachment to animal cells.