In an experimental situation, a student researcher inserts an mRNA molecule into a eukaryotic cell after she has removed its 5′ cap and poly-A tail. Which of the following processes would you expect her to find to have occurred?
A) The mRNA is quickly converted into a ribosomal subunit.
B) The cell adds a new poly-A tail to the mRNA.
C) The mRNA attaches to a ribosome and is translated, but more slowly.
D) The molecule is digested by enzymes because it is not protected at the 5′ end.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The removal of the 5' cap and poly-A tail makes the mRNA molecule unstable and susceptible to degradation by exonucleases, leading to its digestion by enzymes.

In an Experimental Situation, a Student Researcher Inserts an MRNA