What would happen if in a gene encoding a polypeptide of 50 amino acids, 25th codon (UAU) is mutated to UAA?
- A polypeptide of 49 amino acids will be formed
- A polypeptide of 25 amino acids will be formed
- Two polypeptides of 24 and 25 amino acids will be formed
- A polypeptide of 24 amino acids will be formed
Answer
(4) A polypeptide of 24 amino acids will be formed
Solution
UAU codes for tyrosine, whereas UAA is a stop (nonsense) codon that codes for no amino acid.
⇒ Translation proceeds through codons 1 to 24 and terminates at the 25th codon (UAA).
∴ A polypeptide of only 24 amino acids is formed.
Answer: (4)