A 32-year-old man is recovering from extensive burns. Fibroblasts near the site of injury actively synthesize precursor mRNA to be used as templates for protein synthesis. After transcription, extensive processing of the precursor RNA occurs to form the finalized mRNA sequence. The finalized mRNA then exits the nucleus and undergoes translation by ribosome complexes before being degraded. Which of the following steps involving the processing and handling of mRNA occurs only within the cytoplasm of cells?

Question

A 32-year-old man is recovering from extensive burns.  Fibroblasts near the site of injury actively synthesize precursor mRNA to be used as templates for protein synthesis.  After transcription, extensive processing of the precursor RNA occurs to form the finalized mRNA sequence.  The finalized mRNA then exits the nucleus and undergoes translation by ribosome complexes before being degraded.  Which of the following steps involving the processing and handling of mRNA occurs only within the cytoplasm of cells?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: When mRNA is first transcribed from DNA, it is in an unprocessed form called pre-mRNA or heterogeneous nuclear mRNA (hnRNA).  Several processing steps are required before finalized mRNA molecules can leave the nucleus, including 5'-capping, poly A tail addition, and intron splicing.  Cytoplasmic P bodies play an important role in mRNA translation regulation and mRNA degradation.

A 32-Year-Old Man Is Recovering from Extensive Burns