Ch15 Hartwell genetics from genes to genomes 26. Many clinically relevant mitochondrial diseases arecaused by mutations in mitochondrial genes affectingtRNAs. For example, one form of MELAS (mito-chondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosisand stroke-like episodes) is caused by a point muta-tion in the gene encoding the mitochondrial tRNALeuwhose anticodon recognizes the codons 5' UUA and5' UUG. The mutation makes the aminoacylation ofthis tRNA inefficient.a. The rate of synthesis of most mitochondrial proteinsis either unaffected or slightly decreased in MELAScells, but one mitochondrial protein called NAD6 issynthesized at only 10% of the normal rate. How isit possible that the translation of this single mito-chondrial protein might be affected specifically?b. Why might the decreased translation of this one pro-tein be responsible for the pathological condition?c. Researchers are currently investigating ways totreat the symptoms of MELAS patients. One strat-egy involves a change to a nuclear gene. What nu-clear gene might the investigators be targeting?(Assume that you can make any desired change tonuclear genes; we will describe methods to altergenomes in Chapter 18.)

Name: Ch15 Hartwell genetics from genes to genomes 26. Many clinically relev
Uploaded: 2024-03-20T06:42:55.000Z
Channel: Bartleby
Description: Ch15 Hartwell genetics from genes to genomes 26. Many clinically relevant mitochondrial diseases arecaused by mutations in mitochondrial genes affectingtRNAs. For example, one form of MELAS (mito-chondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosisand