Mutant C: Suppose an A/T base pair was inserted in between the two G/C base pairs at positions 18 and 19, marked by the letters above and below the strands. What would the amino acid sequence of the resulting protein be?
Be sure to enter the sequence N- to -C from left to right. Do not include the "N-" or "-C". Please use the 3-letter amino acid abbreviations (for example, "Ala-Gly-Ser"). We will ignore spaces and dashes when we grade your answer.
To determine the amino acid sequence of the resulting protein, we need to first translate the DNA sequence into RNA and then convert the RNA sequence into amino acids.
Given that an A/T base pair was inserted between the two G/C base pairs at positions 18 and 19, marked by the letters above and below the strands, let's start by looking at the DNA sequence surrounding this mutation.
First, we need to determine the DNA sequence before and after the mutation. Let's assume that the DNA sequence left of the mutation is:
5' ... G-G-G-G-G-G-G-G-G-C-G-G-G-G-G-G-C-G-C-T-A-C ... 3'
3' ... C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-G-C-C-C-C-C-C-G-C-G-A-T ... 5'
Now, let's represent the RNA sequence corresponding to the DNA sequence. Remember that when transcribing DNA into RNA, T (thymine) is replaced with U (uracil).
5' ... G-G-G-G-G-G-G-G-G-C-G-G-G-G-G-G-C-G-C-U-A-C ... 3'
To convert this RNA sequence into amino acids, we'll need to refer to the genetic code. The genetic code is a set of rules that translate RNA codons (3 nucleotides) into specific amino acids.
Using the genetic code, we can determine the amino acid sequence:
GGG → Gly
GGG → Gly
GGG → Gly
GGC → Gly (the inserted A/T base pair does not affect this codon)
GCG → Ala
GGA → Gly
UGC → Cys (the codon at positions 18 and 19 is UGU, which codes for the amino acid Cysteine)
So, the amino acid sequence of the resulting protein, considering the mutation, would be:
Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Cys-Ala-Gly
Please note that I assumed that this sequence follows the canonical genetic code. Some organisms may have variations in their genetic code, causing different translations, but this is the standard genetic code used in most organisms.