Chapter 14, Problem 29P

The bacterial insertion sequence IS $\text{10}$ uses antisense RNA to regulate translation of the mRNA that produces the enzyme transposase, which is required for insertion sequence transposition. Transcription of the antisense RNA gene iscontrolled by P_OUT, which is over $\text{10}$ times more efficient at transcription than the P_IN promoter that controls transposase gene transcription.

a. If a mutation reduced the transcriptional efficiency of P_OUT so as to be equal to that of P_IN, what is the likely effect on the transposition of IS $\text{10}$?

b. If a mutation of P_IN eliminates its ability to function in transcription, what is the likely effect on the transposition of IS $\text{10}$?