Chapter 17

The Mechanism of Translation I: Initiation

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following is the best definition of translation?

A. a process by which pre-mRNA is transformed into mature mRNA
B. the process by which pre-mRNA is translated by ribozymes to produce proteins
C. a process by which a gene is converted into mRNA
D. the process by which ribosomes read the genetic message to produce a protein
E. a process by which a gene is converted into a protein

Bloom's Level: 2. Understand

Section: 17.01

2. Which of the following initiation factors prevents reassociation of the 70S ribosome by
binding to the free 30S subunit?
A. IF1
B. IF2
C. IF3
D. IF4
E. IF5

Bloom's Level: 1. Remember

Section: 17.01

3. Which of the following is not part of the 30S initiation complex?

A. IF1, IF2, and IF3
B. 5S rRNA
C. 16S rRNA
D. amino-acyl tRNA
E. mRNA

Bloom's Level: 1. Remember

Section: 17.01

4.The Shine-Dalgarno sequence can be found in

A.mRNA.
B.tRNA.
C.5S rRNA.
D.16S rRNA.
E.30S ribosome.

Bloom's Level: 1. Remember

Section: 17.01

5. Put the following steps of prokaryotic translation initiation in the correct order.
(1) Binding of IF1, IF2, and GTP to the 30S subunit.
(2) Binding of IF3 to the 30S subunit.
(3) Binding of the 50S subunit and loss of IF1 and IF3.
(4) Dissociation of the 70S ribosome.
(5) Formation of the 70S initiation complex by dissociation of IF2 and GTP hydrolysis.
(6) Formation of the 30S initiation complex.
A. 4,2,1,6,3,5
B. 2,1,6,3,5,4
C. 5,6,3,2,1,4
D. 1,2,3,4,5,6
E. 2,4,1,6,3,5

Bloom's Level: 3. Apply

Section: 17.01

Fill in the Blank Questions

Match the following eukaryotic translation initiation factors with their correct function.
A. eIF2
B. eIF1
C. eIF3
D. eIF4F
E. eIF6
Bloom's Level: 1. Remember
Section: 17.02

6. This initiation factor is involved in binding tRNA to the ribosome.

Bloom's Level: 1. Remember

Section: 17.02

7.This initiation factor binds to the 40S subunit and inhibits reassociation of the 40S and 60S
subunits.

Bloom's Level: 1. Remember

Section: 17.02

8. This initiation factor is a Cap binding protein.

Bloom's Level: 1. Remember

Section: 17.02

9. This initiation factor binds to the 60S subunit and inhibits reassociation of the 40S and 60S
subunits.

Bloom's Level: 1. Remember

Section: 17.02

10. This initiation factor aids in ribosome scanning to locate the initiation codon.

Bloom's Level: 1. Remember

Section: 17.02

Multiple Choice Questions

11.Picornavirus mRNAs are not capped, yet they can still out compete host mRNAs for
binding to the ribosome by
A.inactivating host Cap binding protein, eIF4F.
B.degrading host mRNA.
C.having a stronger affinity for the ribosome.
D.inactivation of host RNases.
E.inactivation of host Cap binding protein, eIF2B.

Bloom's Level: 2. Understand

Section: 17.02

12. Which of the following molecules does not interact with eIF4G?
A. Cap
B. alternative protein(x)
C. Pab1p
D. eIF3
E. eIF2

Bloom's Level: 1. Remember

Section: 17.02

13. Which of the following eukaryotic transcription factors is homologous to the prokaryotic
transcription factor IF2?
A. eIF1A
B. eIF2B
C. eIF3
D. eIF4G
E. eIF5B

Bloom's Level: 1. Remember

Section: 17.02

Fill in the Blank Questions

14. Translation takes place in the _________________ of prokaryotes and in the

_____________ of eukaryotes.

Bloom's Level: 1. Remember

Section: 17.03

15.tRNA charging is the addition of a(n) ___________ to the 3 end of a tRNA molecule.

Bloom's Level: 1. Remember

Section: 17.02

16. There are _________ aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, one for each amino acid.

Bloom's Level: 1. Remember

Section: 17.02

17. The _______ subunit of the E. coli ribosome binds the mRNA and tRNA while the
_________ subunit has the peptidyl transferase activity.

Bloom's Level: 1. Remember

Section: 17.01

18. In prokaryotes the first amino acid incorporated into a polypeptide is a __________.

Bloom's Level: 1. Remember

Section: 17.01

19. A(n) _______________ is defined as the area between an initiation codon and a
downstream termination codon located in the same reading frame.

Bloom's Level: 2. Understand

Section: 17.01

20. _________________ studies have shown that eIF3 is a five-lobed protein that binds to
eIF4G and to viral IRES.

Bloom's Level: 1. Remember

Section: 17.02

21. The let-7 miRNA blocks _________________ initiation in human cells.

Bloom's Level: 1. Remember

Section: 17.03

22. Very stable mRNA ______________ between the Cap and the initiation site can block

Bloom's Level: 2. Understand

Section: 17.03

23. Prokaryotic mRNAs contain a short RNA sequence upstream from the initiation codon
called the ______________ sequence, which is complementary to a sequence on 16S rRNA.

Bloom's Level: 1. Remember

Section: 17.01

24. Regions within mRNA that can bind small molecules to change conformation and thereby
change gene expression are called_____________.

Bloom's Level: 1. Remember

Section: 17.03

True / False Questions

25. In prokaryotes the first amino acid in all mature proteins is an N-formyl-methionine.

Bloom's Level: 2. Understand

Section: 17.01

26. Similar to prokaryotes, eukaryotic translation incorporates an N-formyl-methionine as the

first amino acid.

Bloom's Level: 2. Understand

Section: 17.02

27. Most eukaryotic mRNAs have 5 caps that function in translation initiation instead of
Shine Dalgarno sequences found in prokaryotes.

Bloom's Level: 2. Understand

Section: 17.02

28. Translation initiation in eukaryotes involves scanning of the mRNA to locate a favorable
AUG.

Bloom's Level: 2. Understand

Section: 17.02

29. eIF4A is a member of the DEAD protein family that has RNA helicase activity.

Bloom's Level: 1. Remember

Section: 17.02

30. eIF1 and eIF1A appear to encourage formation of a stable 48S complex by dissociating
improper 40S and mRNA complexes.

Bloom's Level: 2. Understand

Section: 17.02

31. E. coli 32 temperature sensitive expression is an example of transcriptional control.

Bloom's Level: 2. Understand

Section: 17.03

32. Phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factors can play both an inhibitory and
stimulatory role in translational control of gene expression.

Bloom's Level: 2. Understand

Section: 17.03

33. Translational control is more common in prokaryotes than eukaryotes because

prokaryotic mRNAs have a longer lifetime than eukaryotic mRNAs.

Bloom's Level: 2. Understand

Section: 17.03