Which of the following features is present in prokaryotic translation but not in eukaryotic translation?

• A. Transport of mRNA out of the nucleus
• B. Splicing of introns
• C. Polycistronic mRNA
• D. 5' cap-dependent ribosome binding

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the key differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic translation processes, focusing on mRNA structure and ribosome binding mechanisms.
2. Step 2: Recall that prokaryotic mRNA is often polycistronic, meaning a single mRNA molecule can encode multiple proteins, whereas eukaryotic mRNA is typically monocistronic, encoding only one protein per mRNA.
3. Step 3: Recognize that transport of mRNA out of the nucleus and splicing of introns are features unique to eukaryotic cells because prokaryotes lack a nucleus and generally do not have introns.
4. Step 4: Note that eukaryotic translation initiation usually requires a 5' cap on the mRNA for ribosome binding, while prokaryotic translation initiation involves ribosome binding to specific sequences called Shine-Dalgarno sequences, not a 5' cap.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the presence of polycistronic mRNA is a distinctive feature of prokaryotic translation not found in eukaryotic translation.