Suppose that a mutation alters the formation of a tRNA such that it still attaches to the same amino acid (phe)but its anticodon loop has the sequence AAU that binds to the mRNA codon UUA (that usually specifies leucine leu).
A) The modified tRNA will cause this mRNA to make only nonfunctioning product.
B) The tRNA-leu will not be able to enter the site of the ribosome to bind to the UUA.
C) One mutated tRNA molecule will be relatively inconsequential because it will compete with many "normal" ones.
D) The tRNA will be so unstable that it will not participate in translation.
E) The mutated tRNA will result in an amino acid variant in all copies of the protein.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The presence of one mutated tRNA molecule among many normal ones means it will have a relatively minor effect due to competition with the normal tRNAs that correctly interpret the mRNA codon.

Suppose That a Mutation Alters the Formation of a TRNA