If a protein is slightly misfolded, it could be because of

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

When evaluating why a protein might be slightly misfolded, consider how sequence changes or cellular handling could influence structure.
Option 1: a mutation causing a change to an amino acid. A missense mutation alters one amino acid in the polypeptide, which can disrupt local interactions (hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic packing, charge interactions) and subtly shift folding, potentially leading to a slight misfold. This is a common and plausible cause of near-normal but imperfect folding.
Option 2: the mRNA was accidentally read backwards by the ribosome. If the ribosome read mRNA in the reverse direction, protein synthesis wouldn’t proceed correctly; however, ribosomes inherently read mRNA codons in the 5' to 3' direction in sets of three nucleotides. A backwards reading is not a standard or feasible mechanism in cellular translation, so this statement describes an implausible scenario for misfolding.
Option 3: a deletion mutation causing one nucleotide to be lost. A single-nucleotide deletion typically causes a frameshift, which usually yields a drastically altered amino acid sequence from the point of mutation onward and often produces truncated or highly abnormal proteins. This tends to cause severe misfolding or loss of function rather than a slight misfolding, making this option less consistent with only slight misfolding.
Option 4: processing occurring in the cytoplasm instead of the endoplasmic reticulum. The folding environment can influence folding outcomes, especially for secreted or membrane proteins that normally enter the ER for proper folding and quality control. If processing occurs in the cytoplasm instead of the ER, misfolding could occur. However, whether this leads to a slight vs. severe folding defect depends on the specific protein and context, and many proteins require ER processing for correct folding, so this is a plausible contributing factor but not a universal explanation for a ‘slightly’ misfolded state.
In summary, the most straightforward and common explanation for a slight misfold involves a subtle change in the amino acid sequence (Option 1), while the other options describe scenarios that are either biologically implausible (Option 2), typically produce drastic changes (Option 3), or depend on context but are not the most direct cause of a mild misfolding (Option 4).

If a protein is slightly misfolded, it could be because of

View Explanation

Log in for full answers

Similar Questions

Sickle cell disease is caused by which type of mutation?

What type of mutation causes sickled cell anemia ?

In a consumer society, many adults channel creativity into buying things

Economic stress and unpredictable times have resulted in a booming industry for self-help products

People born without creativity never can develop it

More Practical Tools for Students Powered by AI Study Helper

Homework AI Solver

Stylized AI Paper Writer

Plagiarism Checker Assistant

Citation AI Academic Writing Tool

In-Class Translation Assistant

AI Note Generator

AI Quiz Answers

Past Exam Questions from University Test Bank

Smart Practice Assistant

Adaptive Practice

Making Your Study Simpler