Concept explainers
The following is a portion of a protein: met-trp-tyr-arg-gly-pro-thr-Various mutant forms of this protein have been recovered. Using the normal and mutant sequences, determine the DNA and mRNA sequences that code for this portion of the protein, and explain each of the mutations.
- a. met-trp-
- b. met-cys-ile-val-val-leu-gln-
- c. met-trp-tyr-arg-ser-pro-thr-
- d. met-trp-tyr-arg-gly-ala-val-ile-ser-pro-thr-
a.

To determine: The DNA and mRNA sequences that code for this normal protein “met-trp-tyr-arg-gly-pro-thr” and explain the mutation in “met-trp”.
Introduction: The proteins are coded from triplet codons. There are 64 triplet codons, which code for 20 amino acids in which initiation and stop codons are also included. The initiation codons allow the mRNA to transcribe the DNA template while stop codons restrict the translation.
Explanation of Solution
The possible triplet codons for the normal protein “met-trp-tyr-arg-gly-pro-thr” are as follows:
Met | Trp | Tyr | Arg | Gly | Pro | Thr |
AUG | UGG | UAU | AGA | GGU | CCU | ACU |
UAC | AGG | GGC | CCC | ACC | ||
GGA | CCA | ACA | ||||
GGG | CCG | ACG |
These are the possible triplet codons for “met-trp-tyr-arg-gly-pro-thr” protein. Any mutation in the above sequences may lead to mutation.
The first mutation occurred and formed “met-trp” protein. Possibly, the mutation occurred at ‘tyr’, which resulted in the termination. The termination is caused by a stop codon. The possible triplet codons after mutation in “met-trp” are :
Met | Trp | Stop codons |
AUG | UGG | UAA |
UAG |
In the original sequence, tyrosine is present. However in mutated sequences, stop codons are formed, which shorten the polypeptide to Trp.
b.

To determine: The DNA and mRNA sequences that code for this normal protein “met-trp-tyr-arg-gly-pro-thr” and explain the mutation in “met-cys-ile-val-val-leu-gln”.
Introduction: The proteins are coded from triplet codons. There are 64 triplet codons which code for 20 amino acids in which initiation and stop codons are also included. The initiation codon allows the mRNA to transcribe the DNA template; whereas, stop codons restrict the translation.
Explanation of Solution
The possible triplet codons for the normal protein “met-trp-tyr-arg-gly-pro-thr” are as follows:
Met | Trp | Tyr | Arg | Gly | Pro | Thr |
AUG | UGG | UAU | AGA | GGU | CCU | ACU |
UAC | AGG | GGC | CCC | ACC | ||
GGA | CCA | ACA | ||||
GGG | CCG | ACG |
These are the possible triplet codons for “met-trp-tyr-arg-gly-pro-thr” protein. Any mutation in the above sequences may lead to mutation.
The second mutation occurred and formed “met-cys-ile-val-val-leu-gln” protein. Possibly the point mutation occurred which caused changes in the reading frame. The triplet codons of the mutated protein “met-cys-ile-val-val-leu-gln” are :
Met | Cys | Ile | Val | Val | Leu | Gln |
AUG | UGU | AUA | GUG | GUC | CUA | ACU |
GUG | ACC | |||||
ACA | ||||||
ACG |
The highlighted codons are mutated. The single place deletion or insertion may arise this type of situation where the complete sequence is changed.
c.

To determine: The DNA and mRNA sequences that code for this normal protein “met-trp-tyr-arg-gly-pro-thr” and explain the mutation in “met-trp-tyr-arg-ser-pro-thr”.
Introduction: The proteins are coded from triplet codons. There are 64 triplet codons which code for 20 amino acids in which initiation and stop codons are also included. The initiation codon allows the mRNA to transcribe the DNA template; whereas, the stop codons restrict the translation.
Explanation of Solution
The possible triplet codons for the normal protein “met-trp-tyr-arg-gly-pro-thr” are as follows:
Met | Trp | Tyr | Arg | Gly | Pro | Thr |
AUG | UGG | UAU | AGA | GGU | CCU | ACU |
UAC | AGG | GGC | CCC | ACC | ||
GGA | CCA | ACA | ||||
GGG | CCG | ACG |
These are the possible triplet codons for “met-trp-tyr-arg-gly-pro-thr” protein. Any mutation in the above sequences may lead to mutation.
The third mutation occurred and formed “met-trp-tyr-arg-ser-pro-thr” protein. Possibly the frameshift mutation occurred, which caused changes in the reading frame. The triplet codons of the mutated protein “met-trp-tyr-arg-ser-pro-thr” are :
Met | Trp | Tyr | Arg | Ser | Pro | Thr |
AUG | UGG | UAU | AGA | AGU | CCU | ACU |
UAC | AGG | CCC | ACC | |||
CCA | ACA | |||||
CCG | ACG |
Here, the only codon for glycine is completely changed. The single frame is inserted and deleted from the same place.
d.

To determine: The DNA and mRNA sequences that code for this normal protein “met-trp-tyr-arg-gly-pro-thr” and explain the mutation in “met-trp-tyr-arg-gly-ala-val-ile-ser-pro-thr-”.
Introduction: The proteins are coded from triplet codons. There are 64 triplet codons, which code for 20 amino acids in which initiation and stop codons are also included. The initiation codon allows the mRNA to transcribe the DNA template; whereas, the stop codons restrict the translation.
Explanation of Solution
The possible triplet codons for the normal protein “met-trp-tyr-arg-gly-pro-thr” are as follows:
Met | Trp | Tyr | Arg | Gly | Pro | Thr |
AUG | UGG | UAU | AGA | GGU | CCU | ACU |
UAC | AGG | GGC | CCC | ACC | ||
GGA | CCA | ACA | ||||
GGG | CCG | ACG |
These are the possible triplet codons for “met-trp-tyr-arg-gly-pro-thr” protein. Any mutation in the above sequences may lead to mutation.
The second mutation occurred and formed “met-trp-tyr-arg-gly-ala-val-ile-ser-pro-thr-” this protein. This is a type of mutation where the reading frame is shifted because this protein is relatively larger than the normal protein.
Hence, frame insertion is a possible way due to which the protein is completely changed.
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Chapter 9 Solutions
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