Refer to the Figure Below

Multiple Choice

Refer to the figure below. A biologist identifies a new signal transduction pathway in mouse cells that are stimulated by the compound L-alanine, represented above.Which statement makes a reasonable prediction about how D-alanine will interact with this pathway, and why?

A) D-alanine will bind to the receptor and stimulate the signal transduction pathway because it has the same chemical formula as L-alanine.
B) D-alanine will bind to the receptor and stimulate the signal transduction pathway because it has the same overall molecular shape as L-alanine.
C) D-alanine will bind to the receptor but will not stimulate the signal transduction pathway because it is similar, but not identical, to L-alanine.
D) D-alanine will not bind to the receptor because it does not have the correct orientation of functional groups to match up with the receptor site.
E) D-alanine will not bind to the receptor because it does not have the same functional groups as L-alanine.