To Find the Gene That Encodes for the Blue-Light Receptor

Multiple Choice

To find the gene that encodes for the blue-light receptor, researchers inserted the gene for the PHOT1 protein into insect cells growing in culture. When they exposed the transgenic cells to blue light, they found that the PHOT1 protein became phosphorylated. No other plant proteins were present in the insect cells. Which of the following is a reasonable conclusion from this result? The PHOT1 protein ________.

A) enabled the insect cells to photosynthesize
B) phosphorylated itself in the presence of blue light
C) is not responsive to blue light
D) is photoreversible
E) is not functional in insect cells