Question

You were very inspired by the PCR system you used when you first started at the molecular testing lab, where DNA replication could occur without the cell (in vitro) if you provided the enzymes and substrates for the reaction in a test tube! As such, you try to make an in vitro translation system, where you add to a test tube bacterial cell extract that includes all the components needed for translation (ribosomes, tRNA, amino acids, etc.).

If eukaryotic mRNA is added to the test tube, would a protein be produced? Why or why not? Be specific in your answer. (2 marks)

Answer 1

Translation of mRNA to protein doesn't occur as all the cellular constituents are of bacterial cell, the bacterial cell translation needs the binding of rRNA to the prokaryotic mRNA at a specific sequence called Shine-Dalgarno sequence. But to initiate this translation in test tube it requires binding of rRNA to a Shine-Dalgarno sequence which is not found in the eukaryotic mRNA. So translation won't happen.