Some viruses can be crystallized and their structures analyzed. One such virus is yellow mottle virus, which infects beans. This virus has a single- stranded RNA genome containing about 6300 nucleotides. Its capsid is 25
-30 nanometres in diameter and contains 180 identical capsomeres. If the yellow mottle virus begins its infection of a cell by using its genome as mRNA, which of the following would you expect to be able to measure?
A) accumulation of new ribosomes
B) transcription rate
C) translation rate
D) formation of new transcription factors
E) replication rate

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

If the yellow mottle virus is using its genome as mRNA, we would expect to measure the translation rate, as this is the process by which the RNA is used to synthesize proteins. The accumulation of new ribosomes and new transcription factors would not necessarily be directly correlated to the virus's use of its genome as mRNA, and replication rate would not be measurable until later stages of infection. Transcription rate would also not be directly measurable unless we were looking at the host cell's transcription machinery in response to the virus.

Some Viruses Can Be Crystallized and Their Structures Analyzed