Ch 18 Protein Synthesis – Flashcards

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Translation
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the synthesis of a polypeptide using the genetic information encoded in an mRNA molecule
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Ribosome
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a complex of rRNA and protein molecules that functions as a site of protein synthesis in the cytoplasm
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A site
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the place on a ribosome that holds the tRNA carrying the next amino acid to be added to the polypeptide chain
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P site
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the place on a ribosome that holds the tRNA carrying the growing polypeptide chain
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E site
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the place on a ribosome where discharged tRNAs leave the ribosome
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Shine-Dalgarno sequence
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A sequence in an mRNA that is required for binding bacterial ribosomes. Aka ribosome binding site (RBS)
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Name the type of chemical bonds that link adjacent amino acids in a protein (* Amide | Ester | Hydrogen | Peptide | Phosphodiester | van der Waals forces *)
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Amide or peptide
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Name the type of chemical bonds that link an amino acid to tRNA (* Amide | Ester | Hydrogen | Peptide | Phosphodiester | van der Waals forces *)
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Ester
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Name the type of chemical bonds that link adjacent nucleotides in RNA (* Amide | Ester | Hydrogen | Peptide | Phosphodiester | van der Waals forces *)
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Phosphodiester
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Name the type of chemical bonds that link a codon in mRNA to an anticodon in tRNA (* Amide | Ester | Hydrogen | Peptide | Phosphodiester | van der Waals forces *)
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Hydrogen
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Name the type of chemical bonds that link the two subunits of a ribosome (* Amide | Ester | Hydrogen | Peptide | Phosphodiester | van der Waals forces *)
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Hydrogen and van der Waals (noncovalent bonds)
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Discuss the advantages to the cell of having multiple ribosomes translating a single mRNA molecule.
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Using polysomes, the cell can produce several protein molecules on a single mRNA molecule. B/c mRNAs have an average lifetime of just a few minutes in the cell, polysomes maximize the number of proteins that can be made per minute.
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On a bacterial ribosome, only one tRNA binds directly to the P site w/o first interacting with the A site. Which tRNA is that?
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The fMet-tRNA(fMet) binds directly to the P site during initiation of protein synthesis, positioned there to make the first peptide bond with a second aminoacylated tRNA that is positioned in the A site.
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What features of tRNA(Ala) are recognized by Ala-tRNA synthetase?
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The synthestase recognizes the G-U base pair (b/w G3 and U70) in the amino acid arm of tRNA(Ala).
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Describe the consequences of a C to G mutation in the third position of the anticodon of tRNA Ala. What other kinds of mutations might have similar effects?
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The mutant tRNA would insert Pro residues at codons that specify Ala. A mutation in tRNA(Pro) that allowed it to be recognized and aminoacylated by ala-tRNA synthetase would have similar effects.
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Why are mutations that insert a Pro amino acid in place of an Ala never found in natural populatoins of organisms? (consider what might happen both to individual proteins and to the organism as a whole).
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Such changes would insert Pro residues at many inappropriate sites in polypeptides, inactivating many proteins, and thus would be lethal.
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In order to isolate proteins that interact with Ran, a student plans to perform a series of coprecipitation experiments. She first isolates nuclei from cells, and then performs the immunoprecipitation assay. Protein(s) (*exportin |importin | both*) are most likely to coprecipitate with Ran?
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exportin and importin
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Shine-Dalgarno Sequence
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Sequence on mRNA that precedes the start codon, which is complementary to a sequence on the 30S ribosomal subunit.
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Initiation complex
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A complex of a ribosome with an mRNA and the initiating Met-tRNA(i)^Met or fMet-tRNA^fMET ready for the elongation steps
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Scanning
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The process by which a partially asembled eukaryotic initiation complex slides along the mRNA until it comes to a start codon
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Elongation
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(1) The second of three stages of RNA synthesis in which ribonucleotides are added to the 3? end of the growing RNA molecule. (2) The second of three stages of protein synthesis in which amino acids are added to the C-terminal end of the growing peptide chain.
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Termination
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(1) The third of three stages of RNA synthesis in which the RNA polymerase and the RNA product are released from the DNA template. (2) The third of three stages of protein synthesis in which the ribosome and the peptide product are released from the mRNA template.
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Elongation factors
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Proteins required in the elongation phase of eukaryotic transcription. E.g. eEF1?, eEF1??, eEF2, EF-G, EF-Ts, and EF-Tu.
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Peptidyl transferase reaction
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An enzyme in the ribosome responsible for peptide bond formation during translation.
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Translocation
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Third step in elongation. Ribosome moves one codon along mRNA and dipeptide is translocated from A site to the P site. When this occurs again, the empty tRNA will be ejected.
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Termination factor
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aka *Release Factors* Protein factors required for the release of a completed polypeptide chain from a ribosome; e.g. RF-1, RF-2 and RF-3
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Release factors
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aka *termination factors*; Protein factors required for the release of a completed polypeptide chain from a ribosome; e.g. RF-1, RF-2 and RF-3
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tmRNA
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aka * transfer-messenger RNA* A bacterial RNA that has the properties of tRNA at its 5' end and the properties of an mRNA (incl stop codon) at it's 3' end; When aminoacylated, the 5' end can bind in the A site of a ribosome stalled on a truncated mRNA, and the 3' end can serve as a template for continued Xlation through a termination codon that recruits the termination factors required for proper termination and ribosome recycling.
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Signal Sequence
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An amino acid sequence, often at the amino terminus, that signals the cellular fate or destination of a newly synthesized protein.
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Signal recognition particle (SRP)
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a protein-RNA complex that recognizes a signal peptide as it emerges from a ribosome and helps direct the ribosome to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) by binding to a receptor protein on the ER
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(*T/F*) The "charging" or activation of a tRNA molecule includes the covalent attachment of an amino acid to the 3'-terminal cytosine of the tRNA.
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*FALSE* the "charging" or activation of a tRNA molecule includes the covalent attachment of an amino acid to the 3'-terminal *adenosine* of the tRNA.
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(*T/F*) The "charging" or activation of a tRNA molecule includes the covalent attachment of the amino group of an amino acid to the tRNA.
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*FALSE* The "charging" or activation of a tRNA molecule includes the covalent attachment of the *carboxyl group* of an amino acid to the tRNA. See slide 15/16:25
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(*T/F*) The "charging" or activation of a tRNA molecule includes the covalent attachment of the carboxyl group of an amino acid to the tRNA.
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TRUE
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(*T/F*) The "charging" or activation of a tRNA molecule includes the covalent attachment of an amino acid to the 5'-terminal adenosine of the tRNA.
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*FALSE* the "charging" or activation of a tRNA molecule includes the covalent attachment of an amino acid to the *3'-terminal* adenosine of the tRNA.
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The enzyme that catalyzes the activation of tRNA molecules is (*the ribosome | RNA polymerase | tRNA isomerase | aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase*)
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aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (each amino acid has one, but each synthetase recognizes >1 tRNA)
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The bacterial Shine-Dalgarno mRNA sequence is (*a translation termination signal | the ribosome binding site | a translational elongation factor | a protein coding region*)
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a translational elongation factor. Initiating 5'-AUG guided to ribosome P site by Shine-Dalgarno sequence: 4-9 purines 8-13 nt upstream of AUG and base-pairs with Py-rich sequence in 16S rRNA
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(*T/F*) Only one of the three tRNA binding sites can be occupied by a tRNA molecule at any given time.
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*FALSE* All three sites can be occupied by a tRNA molecule at any given time
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(*T/F*) Each tRNA that associates with the ribosome must first bind in the P binding site and then move to the A binding site.
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*FALSE* Each tRNA that associates with the ribosome must *first* bind in the *A* binding site and *then move to the P* binding site.
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(*T/F*) The P binding site contains the tRNA molecule covalently bound to the growing chain of amino acids.
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TRUE
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(*T/F*) All tRNAs leave the ribosome through the A site.
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*FALSE* All tRNAs leave the ribosome through the *E* site.
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(*T/F*) Given that methionine has only one codon, the fact that *there is only one tRNA with the 5'-CAU anticodon * explains how N-formylmethionine (fMet) is incorporated only in response to the 5'-AUG initiation codon in E. coli
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*FALSE* the N-formyl group to methionine prevents fMet from entering interior positions in a polypeptide
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(*T/F*) Given that methionine has only one codon, the fact that *only Met-tRNAmet can bind to a specific ribosomal entry site* explains how N-formylmethionine (fMet) is incorporated only in response to the 5'-AUG initiation codon in E. coli
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*FALSE* the N-formyl group to methionine prevents fMet from entering interior positions in a polypeptide
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(*T/F*) Given that methionine has only one codon, the fact that *the N-formyl group to methionine prevents fMet from entering interior positions in a polypeptide* explains how N-formylmethionine (fMet) is incorporated only in response to the 5'-AUG initiation codon in E. coli
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TRUE
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(*T/F*) Given that methionine has only one codon, the fact that *fMet is always incorporated at interior AUG sites and then deformylated after translation * explains how N-formylmethionine (fMet) is incorporated only in response to the 5'-AUG initiation codon in E. coli
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*FALSE* the N-formyl group to methionine prevents fMet from entering interior positions in a polypeptide
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(*T/F*) Re: eukaryotic translation initiation, all polypeptides synthesized by cytosolic ribosomes begin with a Met residue, not an fMet.
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TRUE
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(*T/F*) Re: eukaryotic translation initiation, a special initiator tRNA is utilized for initiation by cytosolic ribosomes.
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TRUE
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(*T/F*) Re: eukaryotic translation initiation, polypeptides synthesized by mitochondrial ribosomes begin with fMet.
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TRUE
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(*T/F*) Re: eukaryotic translation initiation, the 40S ribosomal subunit binds the mRNA before any initiation factors.
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*FALSE* Re: eukaryotic translation initiation, the 40S ribosomal subunit binds *initiation factors before the mRNA*.
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(*T/F*) *Functional 70S ribosome * is an essential component of the bacterial elongation stage of translation
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TRUE
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(*T/F*) *EF-Ts * is an essential component of the bacterial elongation stage of translation
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TRUE
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(*T/F*) *Aminoacyl-tRNAs * is an essential component of the bacterial elongation stage of translation
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TRUE
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(*T/F*) *ATP * is an essential component of the bacterial elongation stage of translation
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*FALSE* ATP is not but *GTP* is an essential component of the bacterial elongation stage of translation
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(*T/F*) In the translational elongation process, tRNA molecules condense with rRNA molecules.
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*FALSE* What would make this true?
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(*T/F*) In the translational elongation process, ribonucleotides are added to amino acids through the synthesis of phosphodiester bonds.
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*FALSE* What would make this true?
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(*T/F*) In the translational elongation process, the polypeptide chain is lengthened by synthesizing peptide bonds between amino acids.
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TRUE
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(*T/F*) In the translational elongation process, ribosomal proteins aggregate to form polysomes.
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*FALSE* What would make this true?
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(*T/F) In the bacterial ribosome, the 70S ribosome is a complex of 50S and 30S subunits.
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TRUE
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(*T/F) In the bacterial ribosome, the entire protein component of the 30S subunit is a single polypeptide chain.
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*FALSE* the protein component of the 30S subunit consists of *21 different proteins*.
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(*T/F) In the bacterial ribosome, each ribosomal subunit contains at least one RNA molecule.
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TRUE
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(*T/F) In the bacterial ribosome, an rRNA molecule, rather than protein, catalyzes peptide-bond formation.
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TRUE
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The amino acid hydroxyproline has no representative codon in the genetic code. How might it be incorporated into proteins?
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Proline is incorporated during protein synthesis; post-translational processing add the hydroxyl group.
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The isoleucyl tRNA synthetase has a proofreading function that improves the fidelity of the aminoacylation reaction, whereas the histidyl tRNA synthetase lacks such a proofreading function. Explain why.
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Isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase sometimes catalyzes the addition of valine to tRNA(Ile); valine is similar to but smaller than isoleucine and can readily fit into the synthetase active site. Histaidine has no close structural analogs among the amino acids, greatly lowering the chance that tRNA(His) will be charged with the incorrect amino acid.
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Ribosomes do not have proofreading activities similar to polymerases. They can't remove the last amino acid. If they had a proofreading function allowing removal of an incorporporated amino acid, would cleavage of the bond linking the last amino acid to the polymer have any effect on the rest of the polypeptide? Why/why not?
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Yes. In polypeptide synthesis, removal of the last amino acid added (by hydrolytic cleavage of the last peptide bond to form) would sever the covalent link b/w the polypeptide and the tRNA in the ribosomal P site. This would terminate polypeptide synthesis.
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A researcher isolates mutant variants of the bacterial translation factors IF-2, EF-Tu, and EF-G. In each case, the mutation allows proper folding of the protein and binding of GTP, but does not allow GTP hydrolysis. At what stage would translation be blocked by such a mutant protein?
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*IF-2*: the 70S ribosome would form, but initiation factors would not be released and elongation could not start. *EF-Tu*: the second aminoacyl-tRNA would bind to the ribosomal A site, but no peptide bond would form. *EF-G*: the first peptide bond would form, but the ribosome would not move along the mRNA to vacate the A site for binding of a new EF-Tu-tRNA.
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When a bacterial mRNA is truncated at the 3' end so that it is missing part of its gene encoding sequence, the ribosome stalls at the end of the truncated mRNA. What mechanism can be used to recycle the stalled ribosome to synthesize new polypeptides?
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A tmRNA binds to the A site of the stalled ribosom. Part of its structure acts as an aminoacylated tRNA(Ala), leading to transfer of an Ala residue to the C-terminus of the partially synthesized protein. Another part of the tmRNA structure functions as an mRNA, permitting the addition of 10 additional amino acids to the protein before a stop codon is reached. After the polypeptide is released from the ribosome, the 10 amino acid residues incorporated at its C-terminal end act as a signal for degradation by cellular proteases.
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Chloramphenicol binds to bacterial ribosomes and is a potent inhibitor of bacterial protein synthesis. But it does not inhibit the cytostolic ribosomes in eukaryotes. However, because of its severe toxicity, chloramphenicol is rarely used as a human antibiotic. Suggest a reason for chloramphenicol toxicity in humans.
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Chloramphenicol inhibits bacterial protein synthesis *and mitochondrial protein synthesis*. The effects on mitochondrial ribosomes give rise to the human toxicity.
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