The flow of genetic information from DNA to protein is mediated b...

Question

The flow of genetic information from DNA to protein is mediated by messenger RNA. If you introduce short DNA strands (called antisense oligonucleotides) that are complementary to mRNAs, hydrogen bonding may occur and 'label' the DNA/RNA hybrid for ribonuclease-H degradation of the RNA. One study [Lloyd et al. (2001). Nucl. Acids Res. 29:3664–3673] compared the effect of different-length antisense oligonucleotides upon ribonuclease-H–mediated degradation of tumor necrosis factor (TNFα) mRNA. TNFα exhibits antitumor and pro-inflammatory activities. The following graph indicates the efficacy of various-sized antisense oligonucleotides in causing ribonuclease-H cleavage.

Describe how antisense oligonucleotides interrupt the flow of genetic information in a cell.

Accepted Answer

Hi everyone welcome back. Here's our next problem. It says RNA or DNA fragments that combined a certain RNA molecules and prevent the RNA from producing proteins or acting in other ways are known as. So envision our um usual M. RNA strand that single stranded. And you have uh transcription happening from the RNA strand. So there are certain fragments of RNA or DNA that come along and bind to the RNA molecule. And their presence there blocks the transcription process. So these fragments are called. And the choice be anti sense oligarch nucleotides. So they're all ago Nucleotide short pieces of RNA or DNA and their anti sense since they're the complementary um piece to the strand their binding to. So let's look at our other answer choices to understand why they're not correct choice A is nonsense. Code owns. These are coders that don't match with any TR N. A. Um And they are stop code ons. So when uh when you have that code on there, no T. RNA comes in and instead a release factor comes along and causes the right zone to release the newly synthesized peptide. But that's not what we're looking for. So cross out choice A choice C. Is D. N. A fingerprints. And those are specific patterns of D. N. A. When it's cut into specific pieces um and run on a gel and by looking at these patterns their fingerprints because different individuals will show different patterns that can be used to identify them but not what we're looking for here. So cross that choice see And then finally genetic probes choice D. Um These are somewhat similar to our anti sense Aleka nucleotides and that they do bind to specific genes, but their purpose is different. They're used usually they're labeled in some way and you use them to find specific sequences in your genome or in your RNA transcript. So genetic probes somewhat similar but used for a different purpose. So Choice D. Is not our answer again. RNA or DNA fragments that bind a certain RNA molecules and prevent the RNA from producing proteins or acting in other ways. Are known as Choice B. Antisense nucleotides. See you in the next video.

Key Concepts

Antisense Oligonucleotides

Ribonuclease H

Flow of Genetic Information

Watch next