With Regard to Translation in Prokaryotes, the Gene Products Are

Multiple Choice

With regard to translation in prokaryotes, the gene products are often encoded on polycistronic mRNAs. As a result, the quantities of each of the proteins are often graded, such that the first gene has a great deal of protein translated, whereas the last gene has very little. Which of the following features of prokaryotic translation may account for increased production of some products and decreased production of others?

A) The different messages have sequences with more or less homology to the Shine Delgarno sequence; fewer ribosomes binding results in less product.
B) There is no termination sequence at the end of each gene, so one long protein is made, resulting in equal amounts of products.
C) Feedback regulation of ribosomes tells the cell that enough product is made, and ribosomes from such mRNAs dissociate.
D) Because transcription and translation in prokaryotes are essentially coupled, there is no gradation in the amount of individual proteins made from a polycistronic message.
E) all of the above