Textbook Question
The drugs ddC and AZT are used to treat AIDS.
Based on their chemical structures, what is their mode of action?
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Ch. 7 - Microbial Genetics
Bauman6th EditionMicrobiology with Diseases by TaxonomyISBN: 9780134832302
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 - A Brief History of Microbiology31
- Ch. 2 - The Chemistry of Microbiology28
- Ch. 3 - Cell Structure and Function39
- Ch. 4 - Microscopy, Staining, and Classification25
- Ch. 5 - Microbial Metabolism51
- Ch. 6 - Microbial Nutrition and Growth37
- Ch. 7 - Microbial Genetics51
- Ch. 8 - Recombinant DNA Technology21
- Ch. 9 - Controlling Microbial Growth in the Environment36
- Ch. 10 - Controlling Microbial Growth in the Body: Antimicrobial Drugs21
- Ch. 11 - Characterizing and Classifying Prokaryotes29
- Ch. 12 - Characterizing and Classifying Eukaryotes34
- Ch. 13 - Characterizing and Classifying Viruses, Viroids, and Prions23
- Ch. 14 - Infection, Infectious Diseases, and Epidemiology35
- Ch. 15 - Innate Immunity34
- Ch. 16 - Adaptive Immunity21
- Ch. 17 - Immunization and Immune Testing29
- Ch. 18 - Immune Disorders22
- Ch. 19 - Pathogenic Gram-Positive Bacteria25
- Ch. 20 - Pathogenic Gram-Negative Cocci and Bacilli28
- Ch. 21 - Rickettsias, Chlamydias, Spirochetes, and Vibrios25
- Ch. 22 - Pathogenic Fungi47
- Ch. 23 - Parasitic Protozoa, Helminths, and Arthropod Vectors44
- Ch. 24 - Pathogenic DNA Viruses23
- Ch. 25 - Pathogenic RNA Viruses30
- Ch. 26 - Applied and Industrial Microbiology29
- Ch. 27 - Microbial Ecology and Microbiomes22
Bauman6th EditionMicrobiology with Diseases by TaxonomyISBN: 9780134832302Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 7, Problem 2
List several ways in which eukaryotic messenger RNA differs from prokaryotic mRNA.
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Understand that messenger RNA (mRNA) serves as the template for protein synthesis in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, but their structures and processing differ significantly.
Identify that eukaryotic mRNA typically undergoes extensive processing after transcription, including the addition of a 5' cap, which is a modified guanine nucleotide that protects the mRNA and assists in ribosome binding.
Note that eukaryotic mRNA also has a 3' poly-A tail, a string of adenine nucleotides added post-transcriptionally, which enhances mRNA stability and aids in nuclear export.
Recognize that eukaryotic mRNA contains introns and exons, requiring splicing to remove non-coding introns before translation, whereas prokaryotic mRNA usually lacks introns and is often polycistronic (encoding multiple proteins).
Understand that eukaryotic mRNA is generally monocistronic (one mRNA codes for one protein), and that eukaryotic mRNA is transported from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, unlike prokaryotic mRNA which is translated immediately after transcription in the cytoplasm.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
mRNA Processing in Eukaryotes
Eukaryotic mRNA undergoes extensive processing including 5' capping, 3' polyadenylation, and splicing to remove introns. These modifications stabilize the mRNA and facilitate its export from the nucleus and translation, unlike prokaryotic mRNA which is typically unprocessed.
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02:32
Eukaryotic RNA Processing and Splicing
Monocistronic vs. Polycistronic mRNA
Eukaryotic mRNA is usually monocistronic, meaning it encodes a single protein per mRNA molecule. In contrast, prokaryotic mRNA is often polycistronic, containing multiple coding sequences that allow simultaneous translation of several proteins from one mRNA.
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04:19Monocistronic mRNA vs. Polycistronic mRNA
mRNA Stability and Lifespan
Eukaryotic mRNA generally has a longer half-life due to protective modifications like the 5' cap and poly-A tail, which prevent degradation. Prokaryotic mRNA is more transient, rapidly degraded to allow quick response to environmental changes.
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04:19Monocistronic mRNA vs. Polycistronic mRNA
Related Practice
Textbook Question
Which of the following is a true statement concerning prokaryotic chromosomes?
a. They typically have two or three origins of replication
b. They contain single-stranded DNA
c. They are located in the cytosol
d. They are associated in linear pairs
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Textbook Question
This bacteriophage DNA molecule has been warmed. Label the portions that likely have a higher ratio of GC base pairs and the portions that have a higher ratio of AT base pairs.
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Textbook Question
A triplet of mRNA nucleotides that specifies a particular amino acid is called a ____________ .
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Textbook Question
Three effects of point mutations are ___________ , ___________ , and ____________ .
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Textbook Question
How does the genotype of a bacterium determine its phenotype? Use the terms gene, mRNA, ribosome, and polypeptide in your answer.
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