The import of acyl-CoA dehydrogenase into the mitochondrion is defective

in cell line HEP-M1. The researcher used subcellular fractionation and western

blotting to detect acyl-CoA dehydrogenase in different subcellular

compartments. The western blotting results for normal healthy hepatocytes and the

HEP-M1 cell line are summarised in the figure below.

Which of the

following mutations (A, B, C) is most likely present in the HEP-M1 cell line?

Use the western blotting results and your knowledge of the mitochondrial

protein import process to justify your response. (2-3 sentences) (2 marks)

A. The acyl-CoA

dehydrogenase mitochondrial signal sequence is mutated