Imagine that a eukaryotic cell carries a mutation that causes the 5' cap to rarely be added to primary transcripts. What would be the result of such a mutation?
A)RNA would be retained in the nucleus following transcription.
B)RNA transcripts would likely be less stable.
C)Protein production would increase.
D)Translation would be adversely affected.
E)RNA transcripts would likely be less stable and translation would be adversely affected.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The 5' cap plays an important role in stabilizing primary transcripts and facilitating their export from the nucleus. Without a 5' cap, RNA transcripts will likely be less stable and may not be efficiently exported from the nucleus. Additionally, translation initiation is dependent on a functional 5' cap. Therefore, without a 5' cap, translation would be adversely affected as well.

Imagine That a Eukaryotic Cell Carries a Mutation That Causes