Question

Retroviruses produces many proteins from a single initial transcript. Which mechanism does it NOT use?

1) Trans-splicing
2) Alternative splicing
3) Ribosomal frameshifting
4) Polyadenylation

Answer 1

Retroviruses use several mechanisms to create proteins from a single RNA transcript, but they do not utilize trans-splicing. Alternative splicing, ribosomal frameshifting, and polyadenylation are used, while trans-splicing is more common in eukaryotes and other viruses.

Step-by-step explanation:

Retroviruses, like HIV, have complex mechanisms for producing proteins from a single initial transcript. One mechanism they do not utilize is trans-splicing. Viruses like HIV leverage processes such as reverse transcription, alternative splicing, ribosomal frameshifting, and have mechanisms related to polyadenylation, but trans-splicing is not typically associated with retroviruses.

Instead, trans-splicing is more commonly found in some eukaryotic organisms and in a different family of viruses. The process of reverse transcription involves an enzyme that converts the viral RNA into DNA, which is then incorporated into the host genome, leading to the production of mRNA and the synthesis of viral proteins.