Scientists have introduced in bacteria a wild type gene coding for GFP (green fl

Question

Scientists have introduced in bacteria a wild type gene coding for GFP (green fluorescent protein) or two engineered versions of this gene containing an additional cis-regulatory element (crRL or crR12). The transcription of the wild-type GFP gene leads to the production of an mRNA containing a cis-acting element labeled X. Transcription of the engineered GFP genes leads to the production of mRNAs containing the cis- acting X and either crRL or crR12 in the 5’ portion of the mRNA. The synthesized mRNA molecules are diagrammed below.

Wild-type GFP mRNA GFP (Open reading frame) 5 AUG STOP3' GFP-mRNA Engineered GFP mRNA CrRL or CrR12 X GFP (Open reading frame) CrRL mRNA or STOP3' crR12mRNA

Explanation / Answer

According to the information, the two cis-acting elements have been inserted in the target gene at a location upstream the start codon. The both inserts lead to termination of translation. Although the gene has been integrated with GFP, an enhanced expression would have shown increase in expression of the green fluorescent protein. Since the cells fail to show any increase in GFP expression and both are localized near the start codon, the cumulative information infers that the genes are translation terminators rather than promoters.

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