Biochemistry : Protein Synthesis

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Biochemistry

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Translation

A researcher is analyzing a protein that is found on the plasma membrane. What can be concluded about the translation of this protein? 

I. It was translated on a cytoplasmic ribosome

II. It involved the use of all three types of RNA

III. It involved a polymerase enzyme

Possible Answers:

II only

I and II

II and III

III only

Correct answer:

II only

Explanation:

Proteins undergo translation with the help of ribosomes, which can be found in either cytoplasm or on the rough endoplasmic reticulum (rough ER). Proteins synthesized on the ribosomes in cytoplasm are destined for somewhere inside the cell. On the other hand, proteins synthesized on the rough ER are processed in the ER and Golgi apparatus and are transported to the membrane or the extracellular matrix. Since the protein in the question is found on a membrane, it must have been synthesized on the ribosomes on the rough ER.  

Recall that all three types of RNA are used in translation. mRNA is the template strand used to synthesize the protein molecule. It contains the information regarding the sequence of amino acids in the protein molecule. tRNA is involved in transporting the amino acid to the growing polypeptide chain. rRNA molecules make up the ribosomes, the location of translation.

Polymerase enzymes are used in DNA replication (DNA polymerase) and transcription (RNA polymerase). They are not involved in translation.

Example Question #11 : Anabolic Pathways And Synthesis

Upon completion of translation, all proteins have __________ starting amino acid(s) and __________ ending amino acid(s).

Possible Answers:

different . . . the same

the same . . . the same

different . . . different

the same . . . different

Correct answer:

the same . . . different

Explanation:

Translation begins when a start codon is recognized in the mRNA molecule. The start codon is AUG, which codes for the amino acid methionine; therefore, all proteins begin with methionine. There are multiple stop codons; therefore, the ending of proteins could be different from one another.

Note that the question is asking about the state of a protein molecule after the completion of translation. A protein can undergo further processing events in the rough ER and Golgi apparatus during which the starting methionine may be cleaved; therefore, the ultimate end product of proteins might have a different starting amino acid.

Example Question #11 : Protein Synthesis

Which of the following are the same regarding prokaryotic and eukaryotic translation?

I. Location of translation of prokaryotic proteins and eukaryotic membrane proteins

II. The start codon

III. Coupling of transcription with translation

Possible Answers:

II only

I and II

I only

I and III

Correct answer:

II only

Explanation:

Like transcription, there are slight differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic translation. In prokaryotes transcription and translation are coupled and occur in the cytoplasm. Recall that in eukaryotes, translation can occur either in the cytoplasm or on the rough ER. Membrane and secretory proteins are synthesized in ribosomes on the rough ER whereas the cytosolic proteins are synthesized in ribosomes in cytoplasm.

The start codon for both prokaryotic and eukaryotic translation is AUG. This codes for the amino acid methionine, which is usually the first amino acid added to a growing polypeptide chain.

As mentioned, coupling of transcription and translation only occurs in the prokaryotes. Eukaryotic transcription occurs in the nucleus and the products need to undergo post-transcriptional modification before entering the cytoplasm for translation; therefore, the two processes aren’t coupled in eukaryotes.

Example Question #4 : Translation

What amino acid is found in all proteins that have just completed translation?

Possible Answers:

Methionine

Valine

Cysteine

Phenylalanine

Correct answer:

Methionine

Explanation:

Every protein begins with methionine, therefore, this will be found in all proteins upon completion of translation. Recall that this methionine might be excised when the protein is further processed in eukaryotes.

Example Question #12 : Protein Synthesis

During translation, AUG corresponds to which amino acid?

Possible Answers:

Alanine

Serine

Methionine

Isoleucine

Valine

Correct answer:

Methionine

Explanation:

5' AUG 3' is the start codon for polypeptide synthesis and corresponds to the amino acid methionine.

Example Question #5 : Translation

Which of the following is false about the genetic code?

Possible Answers:

There are  = 64 three-letter combinations of A, C, T, and U.

Almost all organisms (except mitochondria) use basically the same genetic code.

Some nucleotide triplets are never used in translation.

Each codon signifies either an amino acid, or a translation stop.

Codons are traditionally written with the 5' terminal on the left.

Correct answer:

Some nucleotide triplets are never used in translation.

Explanation:

All nucleotide triplets can theoretically occur in translation. The genetic code is basically universal to all species, except for mitochondria, which create proteins independently from the cell. Each codon translates to an amino acid, a stop codon, or a start codon (which is also an amino acid, methionine). There are indeed 64 possible combinations of the nucleotides, by rules of combinatorics. The 5' terminal is written on the left, as a convention among biologists.

Example Question #11 : Protein Synthesis

Which of the following is false about ribosomal binding sites?

Possible Answers:

If a tRNA molecule's anticodon is complementary to an mRNA codon, the tRNA is held at the P and A sites.

Peptidyl transferase creates the bond between neighboring amino acids using tRNAs stationed at the P and A sites.

The set of three binding sites is labelled A, P, and E.

Ribosomes have a set of three mRNA binding sites, and one tRNA binding site.

The mRNA is shifted three nucleotides' length through the ribosome for each amino acid added.

Correct answer:

Ribosomes have a set of three mRNA binding sites, and one tRNA binding site.

Explanation:

There are three tRNA binding sites -- A, P, and E (for Aminoacyl, Peptidyl, and Exit) -- but only one mRNA binding site. The enzyme which bonds amino acids carried by tRNAs at A and P is indeed called peptidyl transferase. tRNA is held at A and P when its anticodon matches the codon of the mRNA to be translated. Because each codon is three codons long, per amino acid, the mRNA is indeed shifted three nucleotides' length through the ribosome, each time an amino acid is added to the growing chain.

Example Question #15 : Protein Synthesis

Which of the following amino acids has only one possible codon that codes for it?

Possible Answers:

Asparagine

Aspartic acid

Tyrosine

Methionine

Phenylalanine

Correct answer:

Methionine

Explanation:

Among the amino acids, there are two which only have one codon that code for them: tryptophan (UGG), and methionine. Methionine, is, of course, special among them, because the same codon is also the start codon -- AUG. Aspartic acid, asparagine, tyrosine, and phenylalanine all each have two possible corresponding codons (respectively: GAC/GAU, AAC/AAU, UAC/UAU, and UUC/UUU).

Example Question #6 : Translation

Which of the following translation initiation factors is incorrectly matched with its function?

Possible Answers:

eIF4E is a cap binding protein

None of these

eIF4G is a scaffolding protein

eIF4A is a helicase

eIF2B is a GEF for eIF1

Correct answer:

eIF2B is a GEF for eIF1

Explanation:

eIF2B is a GEF (guanine nucleotide exchange factor) for eIF1 eIF2. 

Example Question #11 : Translation

Which of the following eukaryotic elongation factors promotes translocation through GTP binding and hydrolysis? 

Possible Answers:

eEF1A

IP3

eEF2

Ran-GTP

eEF1B

Correct answer:

eEF2

Explanation:

eEF1A first binds to the aminoacyl-tRNA and has GTPase activity. eEF1B is a GEF for eEF1A. eEF2 has the elongation role similar to EF-G in prokaryotes. Neither Ran-GTP nor IP3 are elongation factors.

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