Textbook Question
The following is a portion of an mRNA sequence:
3'-AUCGUCAUGCAGA-5'
Identify the direction in which the promoter region for this gene will be located.
Ch. 8 - Molecular Biology of Transcription and RNA Processing
Sanders3rd EditionGenetic Analysis: An Integrated ApproachISBN: 9780135564172
Not the one you use?Change textbookSelect a different textbook
Table of contents
- Ch. 1 - The Molecular Basis of Heredity, Variation, and Evolution64
- Ch. 2 - Transmission Genetics144
- Ch. 3 - Cell Division and Chromosome Heredity81
- Ch. 4 - Gene Interaction87
- Ch. 5 - Genetic Linkage and Mapping in Eukaryotes103
- Ch. 6 - Genetic Analysis and Mapping in Bacteria and Bacteriophages73
- Ch. 7 - DNA Structure and Replication71
- Ch. 8 - Molecular Biology of Transcription and RNA Processing79
- Ch. 9 - The Molecular Biology of Translation110
- Ch. 10 - Eukaryotic Chromosome Abnormalities and Molecular Organization100
- Ch. 11 - Gene Mutation, DNA Repair, and Homologous Recombination86
- Ch. 12 - Regulation of Gene Expression in Bacteria and Bacteriophage90
- Ch. 13 - Regulation of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes38
- Ch. 14 - Analysis of Gene Function via Forward Genetics and Reverse Genetics72
- Ch. 15 - Recombinant DNA Technology and Its Applications69
- Ch. 16 - Genomics: Genetics from a Whole-Genome Perspective49
- Ch. 17 - Organelle Inheritance and the Evolution of Organelle Genomes27
- Ch. 18 - Developmental Genetics43
- Ch. 19 - Genetic Analysis of Quantitative Traits66
- Ch. 20 - Population Genetics and Evolution at the Population, Species, and Molecular Levels105
Sanders3rd EditionGenetic Analysis: An Integrated ApproachISBN: 9780135564172Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooks
Sanders 3rd EditionCh. 8 - Molecular Biology of Transcription and RNA ProcessingProblem 5a
Sanders 3rd EditionCh. 8 - Molecular Biology of Transcription and RNA ProcessingProblem 5aChapter 8, Problem 5a
The following is a portion of an mRNA sequence:
3'-AUCGUCAUGCAGA-5'
During transcription, was the adenine at the left-hand side of the sequence the first or the last nucleotide used to build the portion of mRNA shown? Explain how you know.
Verified step by step guidance1
Determine the directionality of the mRNA sequence provided. mRNA sequences are conventionally written in the 5' to 3' direction. However, the sequence given is written in the 3' to 5' direction, so it must be reversed to analyze transcription properly.
Reverse the sequence to convert it into the 5' to 3' direction. The reversed sequence becomes 5'-AUGCAGAUCGUA-3'.
Recall that during transcription, RNA is synthesized in the 5' to 3' direction, meaning the RNA polymerase adds nucleotides to the 3' end of the growing mRNA strand.
Identify the template strand of DNA that would have been used to produce this mRNA. The template strand is complementary and antiparallel to the mRNA. For the reversed mRNA sequence (5'-AUGCAGAUCGUA-3'), the template DNA strand would be 3'-TACGTCTAGCAT-5'.
Analyze the position of the adenine (A) at the left-hand side of the original sequence. Since transcription proceeds from the 3' end of the template DNA strand to the 5' end, the adenine at the left-hand side of the original sequence (3'-AUCGUCAUGCAGA-5') would have been the last nucleotide added during transcription.
Verified video answer for a similar problem:
This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.
Video duration:
2mWas this helpful?
Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Transcription Process
Transcription is the process by which a segment of DNA is copied into mRNA by the enzyme RNA polymerase. During this process, RNA polymerase reads the DNA template strand and synthesizes a complementary RNA strand. The direction of synthesis is 5' to 3', meaning that nucleotides are added to the 3' end of the growing mRNA strand.
Recommended video:
Guided course
08:39
mRNA Processing
mRNA Orientation
mRNA is synthesized in a specific orientation, with the 5' end being the start of the molecule and the 3' end being the end. The sequence provided in the question is written in the 3' to 5' direction, which indicates that the actual synthesis of mRNA would have occurred in the 5' to 3' direction. This orientation is crucial for understanding which nucleotide was added first.
Recommended video:
Guided course
08:39mRNA Processing
Nucleotide Addition
During mRNA synthesis, nucleotides are added one at a time to the growing chain. The first nucleotide added corresponds to the first nucleotide of the mRNA sequence, which is determined by the template DNA strand. In the given sequence, the adenine at the left-hand side (3' end) of the mRNA is the last nucleotide added, as it is the 3' end of the synthesized strand.
Recommended video:
Guided course
09:52Spontaneous Mutations
Related Practice
Textbook Question
Compare and contrast the properties of DNA polymerase and RNA polymerase, listing at least three similarities and at least three differences between the molecules.
Textbook Question
The following is a portion of an mRNA sequence:
3'-AUCGUCAUGCAGA-5'
Write out the sequence and polarity of the DNA duplex that encodes this mRNA segment. Label the template and coding DNA strands.
Textbook Question
The diagram below shows a DNA duplex. The template strand is identified, as is the location of the nucleotide.
Assume this region contains a gene transcribed in a bacterium. Identify the location of promoter consensus sequences and of the transcription termination sequence.
Textbook Question
The diagram below shows a DNA duplex. The template strand is identified, as is the location of the nucleotide.
If this region is a eukaryotic gene transcribed by RNA polymerase III, where are the promoter consensus sequences located?
Textbook Question
The diagram below shows a DNA duplex. The template strand is identified, as is the location of the nucleotide. consensus sequences.
Assume this region contains a gene transcribed to form mRNA in a eukaryote. Identify the location of the most common promoter.
4
views