Question

Imagine a cell can perform exocytosis, but only minimal endocytosis. What would happen to the cell?

1. The cell would secrete all its intracellular proteins.
2. The plasma membrane would increase in size over time
3. The cell would stop expressing integral receptor proteins in its plasma membrane.
4. The cell would lyse.

Short answer

(b) The plasma membrane would increase in size over time is the correct answer because endocytosis is a process by which the movement of substances occur from the extracellular fluid into the cell. So the size of the plasma membrane increases over time.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1. Introduction

During exocytosis, the substance that is contained by the vesicles fuses with the plasma membrane, and then the content of the vesicles is released outside the cells.

Step 2. Explanation

(b) The plasma membrane would increase in size over time is the correct answer because endocytosis is a process by which the movement of substances occur from the extracellular fluid into the cell. So the size of the plasma membrane increases over time.

(a) The cell would secrete all its intracellular proteins is an incorrect answer because in the exocytosis process content of the cell is released out from the cell whereas endocytosis is a process of movement of substances from the extracellular fluid into the cell.

(c) It is not the correct answer because in the exocytosis process content of the cell is released out from the cell whereas endocytosis is a process of movement of substances from the extracellular fluid into the cell. So, the plasma membrane food increase in size over time and not going to stop expressing integral receptor proteins in its plasma membrane.

(d) The cell would lyse is an incorrect answer because in endocytosis the plasma membrane would increase in size over time because of the movement of substances from the extracellular fluid into the cell.