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Chapter 30: Problem 5

Point out why Crick's wobble hypothesis would allow fewer than 61 anticodons to be used to translate the 61 sense codons. How might "wobble" tend to accelerate the rate of translation?

Short Answer

Expert verified
The wobble hypothesis allows fewer than 61 anticodons to translate the 61 sense codons by allowing some degree of mismatch in the third position of the codon-anticodon pairing. This flexibility means fewer anticodons are needed, as one can pair with multiple codons. Additionally, wobble tends to speed up the pace of translation; the cell can proceed when one of the available tRNAs fits the wobble rules, rather than waiting for a specific tRNA to come along.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding the Wobble Hypothesis

Crick's wobble hypothesis indicates that the base at the 5' end (first position) of the anticodon doesn't have to adhere strictly to the standard base pairing rules when binding to the 3' end of the codon (third position). This flexibility is the 'wobble.'
02

Explaining the Reduced Requirement of Anticodons

Due to the wobble, a single anticodon can pair with more than one codon. Specifically, codons differing in their third position (e.g. UUU and UUC) can both be recognized by a single anticodon. As a consequence, this decreases the number of anticodons required to translate the 61 sense codons, rendering the translation process more efficient.
03

Speeding Up the Rate of Translation

The wobble hypothesis can accelerate the rate of translation because it allows a smaller number of tRNAs to decode a greater number of codons. This means that the cell doesn't need to wait for a very specific tRNA to bind to a codon, and instead can use one of the available tRNAs fitting the wobble rules, thus quickening the pace of translation.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

(Integrates with Chapter \(11 .\) ) Draw base-pair structures for \((\mathrm{a})\) \(G: C\) base pair, \((b)\) a \(C: G\) base pair, \((c)\) a \(G: U\) base pair, and \((d)\) a U:G base pair. Note how these various base pairs differ in the potential hydrogen-bonding patterns they present within the major groove and minor groove of a double-helical nucleic acid.

How many ATP equivalents are consumed for each amino acid added to an elongating polypeptide chain during the process of protein synthesis?

What is the Shine-Dalgarno sequence? What does it do? The efficiency of protein synthesis initiation may vary by as much as 100 -fold for different mRNAs. How might the Shine-Dalgarno sequence be responsible for this difference?

In the protein synthesis elongation events described under the section on translocation, which of the following seems the most apt account of the peptidyl transfer reaction: (a) The peptidyl-tRNA delivers its peptide chain to the newly arrived aminoacyl-tRNA situated in the A site, or (b) the aminoacyl end of the aminoacyl-tRNA moves toward the \(P\) site to accept the peptidyl chain? Which of these two scenarios makes more sense to you? Why?

Review the evidence establishing that aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases bridge the information gap between amino acids and codons. Indicate the various levels of specificity possessed by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases that are essential for high-fidelity translation of messenger RNA molecules.
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