What would happen if a cell transcribed and translated a genes intron by mistake?
Errors in the protein folding with me repaired.
The DNA would remain the same as before.
The intron would be able to duplicate itself.
Additional amino acids would be inserted into the chain.
If a cell transcribed and translated a gene's intron by mistake, several things could happen:
1. Errors in protein folding: Introns do not contain coding sequences for proteins, so translating an intron would result in the production of a non-functional or misfolded protein. This could lead to disruptions in cellular processes and potentially result in diseases or malfunctioning of the cell.
2. Protein quality control mechanisms: Cells have mechanisms to detect and degrade abnormal proteins. The misfolded protein resulting from the translation of an intron might be recognized as abnormal by these quality control systems, leading to degradation or recycling of the protein.
3. DNA remains the same: Transcription and translation of an intron do not affect the DNA sequence itself. The intron RNA might be transcribed and processed, but the original DNA sequence remains unaltered.
4. Intron duplication: If the cell somehow manages to duplicate the intron during the transcription process, it could lead to the generation of additional intron copies within the cell. However, these duplicated introns are unlikely to have any functional significance as they lack coding sequences.
5. Insertion of additional amino acids: In the case of translation of an intron, the resulting protein might have additional amino acids, which are not present in the normal protein. These extra amino acids could disrupt the protein's structure and function, leading to potential consequences for cellular processes.
In summary, transcribing and translating a gene's intron by mistake can have various effects, such as misfolded proteins, protein degradation, potential intron duplication, and the insertion of additional amino acids. However, it is important to note that introns are normally removed during RNA processing, and their inclusion in the final protein product is highly unlikely under normal circumstances.