A new experimental drug has been developed that reduces the activity of microRNA in the beta cells of the pancreas of people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Ifthisdrug was specific only for pancreatic beta cells, what would be its effect?
A)Increased production of insulin
B)Decreased production of insulin
C)Increased degradation of insulin
D)Decreased degradation of insulin

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

MicroRNA is a small, noncoding piece of RNA that regulates gene expression at the RNA level by binding to parts of targeted mRNA molecules, making them partially double stranded, which cannot be translated. This action "silences" the translation ability of selected mRNA molecules and increases the rate at which they are degraded. This experimental drug has the potential to increase insulin production by allowing insulin-coding mRNA to be present longer and not have its translation inhibited by being double stranded. MicroRNA has no effect on a protein once it has been produced. Thus, the degradation of formed insulin is not changed.

A New Experimental Drug Has Been Developed That Reduces the Activity