You are studying the process of translation and you are working with a mutant of

Question

You are studying the process of translation and you are working with a mutant of the amino-acyl tRNA synthetase for valine. You purify the enzyme and analyze its biochemical activity. You discover that it can attach valine to the correct tRNA, but also notice that unlike the wild type enzyme, the mutant can attach lysine onto the valine tRNA. You express the mutant in cells and notice it makes the cells grow slowly, they are sick. You want to understand why so you start to analyze the levels of different proteins in the cell. The amounts of the components of the translation machinery are not changed, but you noticed that hsp60 and hsp70 is increased 30-fold. Why are the cells sick? Why are hsp60 and 70 increased?

Explanation / Answer

Due to the attachment of lysine to valine tRNA the expression of protein is not correct and causes stress in the environment. The cells are sick because of incorrect expression of proteins. The stress in the environment triggers an increase in the level of hsp60 and hsp70 which are produced to give heat shock response in the cells.

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