Midterm 2 Flashcards
Which of the following statements about prokaryotic mRNA molecules is false?
(a) A single prokaryotic mRNA molecule can be translated into several
proteins.
(b) Ribosomes must bind to the 5′ cap before initiating translation.
(c) mRNAs are not polyadenylated.
(d) Ribosomes can start translating an mRNA molecule before transcription is
complete.
(b) Ribosomes must bind to the 5′ cap before initiating translation.
Figure Q7-6 shows a ribose sugar. The part of the ribose sugar where a new
ribonucleotide will attach in an RNA molecule is pointed to by arrow ____.
(c) 4.
"Since introns do not contain protein-coding information, they do not have to be removed precisely (meaning, a nucleotide here and there should not matter) from the primary transcript during RNA splicing."
False
The repair of mismatched base pairs or damaged nucleotides in a DNA strand requires a multistep process. Which choice below describes the known sequence of events in this process?
(a) DNA damage is recognized, the newly synthesized strand is identified by an existing nick in the backbone, a segment of the new strand is removed by repair proteins, the gap is filled by DNA polymerase, and the strand is sealed by DNA ligase
There are several reasons why the primase used to make the RNA primer for
DNA replication is not suitable for gene transcription. Which of the statements
below is not one of those reasons?
(b) Primase can initiate RNA synthesis without the need for a base-paired
primer.
Sickle-cell anemia is an example of an inherited disease. Individuals with this disorder have misshapen (sickle-shaped) red blood cells caused by a change in the sequence of the β-globin gene. What is the nature of the change?
(b) base-pair change
RNA in cells differs from DNA in that ___________________.
(c) it is single-stranded and can fold up into a variety of structures
You have discovered an “Exo-“ mutant form of DNA polymerase in which the 3′- to-5′ exonuclease function has been destroyed but the ability to join nucleotides together is unchanged. Which of the following properties do you expect the mutant polymerase to have?
(d) It will be more likely to generate mismatched base pairs.
Which of the following molecules is thought to have arisen first during evolution?
(c) RNA
After damaged DNA has been repaired, nicks in the phosphate backbone are maintained as a way to identify the strand that was repaired.
False
The ribosome is important for catalyzing the formation of peptide bonds. Which
of the following statements is true?
(a) The number of rRNA molecules that make up a ribosome greatly exceeds
the number of protein molecules found in the ribosome.
(b) The large subunit of the ribosome is important for binding to the mRNA.
(c) The catalytic site for peptide bond formation is formed primarily from an
rRNA.
(d) Once the large and small subunits of the ribosome assemble, they will not
separate from each other until degraded by the proteasome.
(c) The catalytic site for peptide bond formation is formed primarily from an
rRNA.
DNA ligase is required to seal the sugar-phosphate backbone between all the DNA fragments on the lagging strand.
True
Primase is needed to initiate DNA replication on both the leading strand and the lagging strand.
True
What part of the DNA replication process would be most directly affected if a strain of bacteria lacking DNA ligase were used to make the cell extracts?
(d) lagging-strand completion
DNA replication origins are typically rich in G-C base pairs.
False
What part of the DNA replication process would be most directly affected if a strain of bacteria lacking helicase were used to make the cell extracts?
(a) initiation of DNA synthesis
The 3′ overhang “invades” the homologous DNA duplex, which can be used as a primer for the repair DNA polymerase.
True
Which of the following statements about sequence proofreading during DNA replication is false?
(b) The exonuclease activity cleaves DNA in the 5′-to-3′ direction.
Ionizing radiation and oxidative damage can cause DNA double-strand breaks.
True
Match the following structures with their names. (Figure Q7-10)
- Uracil
- Deoxyribose
- Ribose
- Adenine
A—4; B—2; C—1; D—3
Which of the following statements is true?
(a) Ribosomes are large RNA structures composed solely of rRNA.
(b) Ribosomes are synthesized entirely in the cytoplasm.
(c) rRNA contains the catalytic activity that joins amino acids together.
(d) A ribosome binds one tRNA at a time.
(c) rRNA contains the catalytic activity that joins amino acids together.
Total nucleic acids are extracted from a culture of yeast cells and are then mixed
with resin beads to which the polynucleotide 5
-
TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT-3
has been covalently attached. After a
short incubation, the beads are then extracted from the mixture. When you
analyze the cellular nucleic acids that have stuck to the beads, which of the
following is most abundant?
(d) mRNA
Which of the following statements is false?
(a) A new RNA molecule can begin to be synthesized from a gene before the
previous RNA molecule’s synthesis is completed.
(b) If two genes are to be expressed in a cell, these two genes can be
transcribed with different efficiencies.
(c) RNA polymerase is responsible for both unwinding the DNA helix and
catalyzing the formation of the phosphodiester bonds between nucleotides.
(d) Unlike DNA, RNA uses a uracil base and a deoxyribose sugar.
Choice (d) is false. RNA nucleotides contain the sugar ribose.
The DNA duplex consists of two long covalent polymers wrapped around each other many times over their entire length. The separation of the DNA strands for replication causes the strands to be “overwound” in front of the replication fork. How does the cell relieve the torsional stress created along the DNA duplex during replication?
(b) Topoisomerases break the covalent bonds of the backbone allowing the local unwinding of DNA ahead of the replication fork.