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Chapter 12: Problem 22

In a mixed copolymer experiment, messages were created with either \(4 / 5 \mathrm{C}: 1 / 5 \mathrm{A}\) or \(4 / 5 \mathrm{A}: 1 / 5 \mathrm{C}\). These messages yielded proteins with the amino acid compositions shown in the following table. Using these data, predict the most specific coding composition for each amino acid. $$\begin{array}{lccc} {}{} {4 / 5 \mathrm{C}: 1 / 5 \mathrm{A}} & {}{} {4 / 5 \mathrm{A}: 1 / 5 \mathrm{C}} \\ \text { Proline } & 63.0 \% & \text { Proline } & 3.5 \% \\ \text { Histidine } & 13.0 \% & \text { Histidine } & 3.0 \% \\ \text { Threonine } & 16.0 \% & \text { Threonine } & 16.6 \% \\ \text { Glutamine } & 3.0 \% & \text { Glutamine } & 13.0 \% \\ \text { Asparagine } & 3.0 \% & \text { Asparagine } & 13.0 \% \\ \text { Lysine } & \underline{0.5 \%} & \text { Lysine } & \underline{50.0 \%} \\\ & 98.5 \% & & 99.1 \% \end{array}$$

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: The predictions are as follows: - Proline: More reliant on C - Histidine: More reliant on C - Threonine: Evenly reliant on C and A - Glutamine: Evenly reliant on C and A - Asparagine: Evenly reliant on C and A - Lysine: More reliant on A

Step by step solution

01

Identify the amino acids with higher occurrence in each message

Compare the percentages of each amino acid in both messages: Message 1 (4/5 C: 1/5 A): Proline 63%, Histidine 13%, Threonine 16%, Glutamine 3%, Asparagine 3%, Lysine 0.5% Message 2 (4/5 A: 1/5 C): Proline 3.5%, Histidine 3%, Threonine 16.6%, Glutamine 13%, Asparagine 13%, Lysine 50% From the comparison, we can see that Proline and Histidine are much more prominent in message 1 compared to message 2, whereas Lysine is much more prominent in message 2 compared to message 1.
02

Determine the coding compositions based on nucleotide contribution

Since Proline and Histidine are more prominent in message 1, where C is more abundant, it is reasonable to infer that the coding composition for these amino acids is more reliant on C than on A. Similarly, because Lysine is much more prominent in message 2, where A is more abundant, it is likely that the coding composition for Lysine is more reliant on A than on C. Threonine, Glutamine, and Asparagine have roughly similar proportions in each message, indicating that their coding compositions are likely more evenly dependent on both C and A.
03

Predict the specific coding compositions for each amino acid

Based on the conclusions from Step 2, we can predict the most specific coding compositions for each amino acid: - Proline: More reliant on C - Histidine: More reliant on C - Threonine: Evenly reliant on C and A - Glutamine: Evenly reliant on C and A - Asparagine: Evenly reliant on C and A - Lysine: More reliant on A These predictions provide a rough estimate of the coding compositions for each amino acid in these messages; however, more detailed analysis or experimental data would be necessary to accurately determine individual nucleotide codes for each amino acid.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

In this chapter, we focused on the genetic code and the transcription of genetic information stored in DNA into complementary RNA molecules. Along the way, we found many opportunities to consider the methods and reasoning by which much of this information was acquired. From the explanations given in the chapter, what answers would you propose to the following fundamental questions: (a) How did we determine the compositions of codons encoding specific amino acids? (b) How were the specific sequences of triplet codes determined experimentally? (c) How were the experimentally derived triplet codon assignments verified in studies using bacteriophage MS2? (d) How do we know that mRNA exists and serves as an intermediate between information encoded in DNA and its concomitant gene product? (e) How do we know that the initial transcript of a eukaryotic gene contains noncoding sequences that must be removed before accurate translation into proteins can occur?

An alanine residue exists at position 180 of a certain plant protein. If the codon specifying alanine is GCU, how many singlebase substitutions will result in an amino acid substitution at position \(180,\) and what are they?

Illustrating the importance of triphosphate and monophosphate molecules, explain the process of RNA biosynthesis by RNA polymerase.

In studies of frameshift mutations, Crick, Barnett, Brenner, and Watts-Tobin found that either three nucleotide insertions or deletions restored the correct reading frame. (a) Assuming the code is a triplet, what effect would the addition or loss of six nucleotides have on the reading frame? (b) If the code were a sextuplet (consisting of six nucleotides), would the reading frame be restored by the addition or loss of three, six, or nine nucleotides?

Sydney Brenner argued that the code was nonoverlapping because he considered that coding restrictions would occur if it were overlapping. A second major argument against an overlapping code involved the effect of a single nucleotide change. In an overlapping code, how many adjacent amino acids would be affected by a point mutation? In a nonoverlapping code, how many amino acid(s) would be affected?
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