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27 votes
An mRNA transcript has only one START codon.

What would happen if the mRNA transcript lost
that START codon?

A. The STOP codon would morph into a START codon.
B. Transcription would start automatically.
C. The START codon is not needed, so nothing would change.
D. Translation would NOT happen, and protein synthesis would NOT
begin.

User Anton Ganichev
by
2.5k points

1 Answer

13 votes
13 votes

Answer:

D. Translation would NOT happen, and protein synthesis would NOT begin.

Step-by-step explanation:

RUNDOWN!

Codon:

In genetic material, such as DNA or mRNA sequences from which it is translated into proteins, specialized information is encoded through a particular sort of genetic code, or set of instructions, known as a codon. The amino acids that make up these proteins have been linked together in a specific sequence. Any change in this sequence denotes a change in the coding; these changes are frequently brought on by genetic mutations. The mapping that each codon creates is made up of three nucleotides that each code for a single amino acid and is encoded in the organism's tRNA. The four nucleotides that make up all of the DNA are adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine.

Start Codon:

The first amino acid in the polypeptide chain is translated into a protein by a start codon in the DNA. The start codon is found in the first three nucleotides of the mRNA coding sequence that will be translated into proteins. This is a crucial structure because a start codon determines the precise protein sequence that is translated.

A region known as the 5′ UTR, commonly referred to as the leader sequence, is usually always present before the initiation codon. It is a specific region of mRNA that begins at position +1. Just before the codon start of the coding region, this is the area where transcription starts and stops.

The first AUG codon in the mRNA sequence is often this one. Additionally, the ATG codon bases are often present in DNA start codon situations. Higher organisms, or eukaryotes, seldom have start codons that are not AUG codons. However, there are other alternate ones like GUG and UUG in addition to AUG. These are found in prokaryotes, which are lower and less differentiated organisms.

For instance, 83% of the time, E. coli employs ATG (AUG), 14% of the time, GTG (GUG), and 3% of the time, TTG (UUG). A few others, such as ATT and CTG, are sometimes observed. Even within the same species, there could not always be the same start codon. UUG and GUG are often the start codons for bacteria and archaea. The usage of alternative initiation codons by certain proteins, which may not be employed by that species, has been seen in a small number of extremely uncommon instances.

Methionine is the first amino acid that is coded during protein synthesis, hence it is present in all start codons. Although the codon present ordinarily encodes for a different amino acid, it finally gets translated as methionine even if other initiation codons are available. This occurs because in these circumstances a different tRNA is employed for initiation. Chain initiation, also known as a start codon, initiates translation. Start codons and stop codons vary from one other in one important way. The former are not enough to start the process of protein synthesis, unlike the latter ones. The translation process must also be initiated by nearby sequences and a few other starting factors.

As is customary, the mutant mRNA would be sent to the ribosomes in situations of start codon mutation, but translation would not occur. This is so because it is an initiation codon, not a transcription start codon, that initiates translation. Because this codon lacks an appropriate nucleotide sequence that can serve as a reading frame, it cannot necessarily create proteins.

Thanks,
Eddie

User Goyuix
by
2.8k points
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