Question

Lesch-Nyhan syndrome is caused by the deficiency of the enzyme hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HGPRT). Cells deficient in HGPRT die in a medium containing which of the following?

(a) Hypoxanthine and thymidine

(b) Thymidine

(c) Aminopterin and thymidine

(d) Hypoxanthine, thymidine and aminopterin (HAT medium)

I had been asked this question during an interview for a job.

I would like to ask this question from Cultured Cells in Mammals and Restricted Areas in Intact Organisms topic in division Using Other Organisms of Genetic Engineering

Answer 1

The correct option is (d) Hypoxanthine, thymidine and aminopterin (HAT medium)

The explanation: HGPRT deficient cells in the medium containing all three hypoxanthine, thymidine and aminopterin. It is so because aminopterin blocks the endogenous synthesis of purines needed for the synthesis of nucleic acid.