Q: You\'ve been doing some genetic analysis regarding the MTRC gene; a novel mut

Question

Q: You've been doing some genetic analysis regarding the MTRC gene; a novel mutation in this particular gene leads to some really strange outcomes in your yeast. You've noticed that every subsequent generation of this genetically-engineered mutant yeast seems to have novel lack of function issues. Like, your first generation of this mutant completely lacks lactose transporter proteins. The second generation do not have any glucose receptors. And the third generation is unable to generate pyruvate.

You've replicated these results numerous times and yet every time you generate the MTRCmutant in yeast, each generation effectively loses the ability to make these proteins. Other than these specific issues (and whatever happens as a result of these issues), your yeast are otherwise normal and fine.

Based on all of this information, which protein important for DNA replication do you think this MTRC gene impacts?

primase, single stranded binding proteins, helicase, ligase. DNA pol I, topoisomerase, telomerase, DNA pol III, initiation proteins

The correct answer was telomerase, but I want to know why - my guess was not telomerase, because I would think a mutation impacting an enzyme that creates a noncoding region would unlikely affect protein function.

Any help appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Explanation / Answer

A telomere is a region of repetitive sequences at each end of eukaryotic chromosomes in most eukaryotes. Telomeres protect the end of the chromosome from DNA damage or from fusion with neighbouring chromosomes.

Telomerase, also called terminal transferase, is a ribonucleoprotein that adds a species-dependent telomere repeat sequence to the 3' end of telomeres. Telomerase reverses telomere shortening. if a cell is deficient in this enzyme, chromosomes will shorten and might lose their function.

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