The calcitonin gene can encode either the hormone calcitonin or a protein called calcitonin-gene-related peptide depending on which 3' cleavage site is used. In the thyroid gland, cleavage and polyadenylation occur after the fourth exon leading to calcitonin production. However, in the brain, the exact same transcript is cleaved after the sixth exon yielding calcitonin-gene-related peptide. This is an example of:
A) multiple capping.
B) alternative RNA processing.
C) polyadenylation.
D) environmental influence.
E) mutation.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is an example of alternative RNA processing, where the same pre-mRNA can be processed in different ways to produce different proteins.

The Calcitonin Gene Can Encode Either the Hormone Calcitonin or a Protein