Understand the concepts behind this lab and do not think I am going to do well on it. I need help walking through the lab (http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/tlw3/virtual_labs/lab7/home.html)

There’s two parts to it but the first part is where I cannot grasp the concept. If someone could help walk me through how to get to the proper solutions I could use it because it will come up on exam. The questions as you will see are:

1. LHX3b does not normally activate the aGSU promoter so would you expect either of the mutations to have affects on LHX3b’s ability to actviate the promoter?

2. The aGSU gene encodes the common subunit of the pituitary hormones LH, FSH, and TSH. Based on this, can you predict a possible function of LHX3a in the cell?

3. The deletion mutations essentially knocked out the ability of LHX3a^HD to activate the aGSU promoter anda to bind to the Lhx3 binding sites of the reporter gene. Considering this, what part of LHX3a do you think interacts with the aGSU promoter and the Lhx3 binding sites of the reporter gene?

4. Do your results support or reject your hypothesis?