Protein Synthesis Exam Questions and
Answers
Which RNA is a single stranded template that codes for a protein?
mRNA
What is a sequence of three nucleotides which together form a unit of genetic
code?
codon
How many possible codons exist?
64
(Note: the 4 nucleotides
can be arranged in 64
possible triplet sequences)
How many codons code for amino acids?
61
How many stop codons exist?
3
What are the 3 stop codon sequences?
1. UAA
2. UAG
3. UGA
Which RNA is a clover-shaped transporter of anticodons
tRNA
Which portion of tRNA attaches to the amino acid being transported?
the C-C-A-3' end
Which portion of tRNA pairs complementary with the codon in mRNA?
,anticodon
What is the term explaining that the third nucleotide in the codon is often not
required?
wobbles
The wobble phenomenon allows how many tRNA's to base-pair with the 61
amino acid coding mRNA codons?
45
(Note: allows for less tRNA in circulation)
By which intermolecular forces is the tRNA clover shape held together?
hydrogen bonds
(Note: intermolecular
base pairing in tRNA)
Which RNA is the smallest?
tRNA
What molecules come together to form ribosomes?
rRNA
What nuclear structure is an assemblage of DNA actively being transcribed into
rRNA?
nucleolus
How many binding sites do ribosomes have?
3
What do the ribosome binding sites bind?
1. incoming site
for tRNA's with
amino acids (A site)
, 2. site for tRNA to
transfer its amino acid to
the growing chain (P site)
3. site for empty tRNA's
to exit (E site)
Where are ribosome subunits assembled?
nucleolus
Where are the large and small ribosomal subunits finally assembled?
cytoplasm
Which RNA is the most abundant RNA molecule?
rRNA
(Mnemonic:
r = rich (rRNA)
t = tiny (tRNA)
m = meager (mRNA))
What process serves to create RNA molecules from a DNA template?
transcription
What are the 3 steps of transcription?
1. initiation
2. elongation
3. termination
What step in transcription begins with RNA polymerase attaching to the
promoter region on DNA?
initiation
What is the function of RNA polymerase when it first binds DNA?
unzip the DNA
Answers
Which RNA is a single stranded template that codes for a protein?
mRNA
What is a sequence of three nucleotides which together form a unit of genetic
code?
codon
How many possible codons exist?
64
(Note: the 4 nucleotides
can be arranged in 64
possible triplet sequences)
How many codons code for amino acids?
61
How many stop codons exist?
3
What are the 3 stop codon sequences?
1. UAA
2. UAG
3. UGA
Which RNA is a clover-shaped transporter of anticodons
tRNA
Which portion of tRNA attaches to the amino acid being transported?
the C-C-A-3' end
Which portion of tRNA pairs complementary with the codon in mRNA?
,anticodon
What is the term explaining that the third nucleotide in the codon is often not
required?
wobbles
The wobble phenomenon allows how many tRNA's to base-pair with the 61
amino acid coding mRNA codons?
45
(Note: allows for less tRNA in circulation)
By which intermolecular forces is the tRNA clover shape held together?
hydrogen bonds
(Note: intermolecular
base pairing in tRNA)
Which RNA is the smallest?
tRNA
What molecules come together to form ribosomes?
rRNA
What nuclear structure is an assemblage of DNA actively being transcribed into
rRNA?
nucleolus
How many binding sites do ribosomes have?
3
What do the ribosome binding sites bind?
1. incoming site
for tRNA's with
amino acids (A site)
, 2. site for tRNA to
transfer its amino acid to
the growing chain (P site)
3. site for empty tRNA's
to exit (E site)
Where are ribosome subunits assembled?
nucleolus
Where are the large and small ribosomal subunits finally assembled?
cytoplasm
Which RNA is the most abundant RNA molecule?
rRNA
(Mnemonic:
r = rich (rRNA)
t = tiny (tRNA)
m = meager (mRNA))
What process serves to create RNA molecules from a DNA template?
transcription
What are the 3 steps of transcription?
1. initiation
2. elongation
3. termination
What step in transcription begins with RNA polymerase attaching to the
promoter region on DNA?
initiation
What is the function of RNA polymerase when it first binds DNA?
unzip the DNA
