Question

In bacteria, what would be the consequence of a protein binding to and blocking the ribosomal binding site on an mRNA?

A. The protein will recruit the small ribosomal subunit to the mRNA, increasing translation efficiency.
B. The protein will be incorporated into the growing polypeptide chain.
C. The ribosome will begin translation at a new location on the mRNA.
D. The small ribosomal subunit will not be able to bind to the mRNA, and translation will be inhibited.

Answer 1

If a protein binds and blocks the ribosomal binding site on mRNA in bacteria, the small ribosomal subunit cannot bind and translation is inhibited, preventing protein synthesis.

The correct answer is option d.

Step-by-step explanation:

In bacteria, if a protein binds to and blocks the ribosomal binding site on an mRNA, the consequence would be that the small ribosomal subunit will not be able to bind to the mRNA, and as a result, translation will be inhibited (Option D). This blockage prevents the ribosome from recognizing the mRNA and assembling to initiate protein synthesis.

No translation of the mRNA into a protein can occur, which disrupts cellular function that depends on that specific protein. It's similar to antibiotics like tetracycline, which blocks tRNA binding to the ribosome, and chloramphenicol, which blocks peptidyl transfer and inhibits the growth of the protein chain.

option d. The small ribosomal subunit will not be able to bind to the mRNA, and translation will be inhibited, is correct.