DP Biology Questionbank
7.3 Translation
Description
Nature of science:
Developments in scientific research follow improvements in computing—the use of computers has enabled scientists to make advances in bioinformatics applications such as locating genes within genomes and identifying conserved sequences. (3.7)Understandings:
- Initiation of translation involves assembly of the components that carry out the process.
- Synthesis of the polypeptide involves a repeated cycle of events.
- Disassembly of the components follows termination of translation.
- Free ribosomes synthesize proteins for use primarily within the cell.
- Bound ribosomes synthesize proteins primarily for secretion or for use in lysosomes.
- Translation can occur immediately after transcription in prokaryotes due to the absence of a nuclear membrane.
- The sequence and number of amino acids in the polypeptide is the primary structure.
- The secondary structure is the formation of alpha helices and beta pleated sheets stabilized by hydrogen bonding.
- The tertiary structure is the further folding of the polypeptide stabilized by interactions between R groups.
- The quaternary structure exists in proteins with more than one polypeptide chain.
Application and skills:
- Application: tRNA-activating enzymes illustrate enzyme–substrate specificity and the role of phosphorylation.
- Skill: Identification of polysomes in electron micrographs of prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
- Skill: The use of molecular visualization software to analyse the structure of eukaryotic ribosomes and a tRNA molecule.
Guidance:
- Names of the tRNA binding sites are expected as well as their roles.
- Examples of start and stop codons are not required.
- Polar and non-polar amino acids are relevant to the bonds formed between R groups.
- Quaternary structure may involve the binding of a prosthetic group to form a conjugated protein.
Utilization:
Syllabus and cross-curricular links:
Biology
Topic 2.7 DNA replication, transcription and translation
Option B: Biotechnology and bioinformatics
Directly related questions
- 17M.1.HL.TZ2.9: Scientists have heated a solution containing the protein albumin and measured its relative alpha...
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20N.1.HL.TZ0.28:
The diagram shows the three-dimensional structure of tRNA.
[Source: Structure reproduced with the kind permission of N.R. Voss.]
What can attach to the region marked X?
A. mRNA
B. An amino acid
C. An anticodon
D. The P site of the ribosome
- 18M.2.HL.TZ1.4c: Distinguish between the purpose of free and bound ribosomes.
- 17M.1.HL.TZ2.11: This image is taken from a visualization of a eukaryotic ribosome. The arrows show the direction...
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21N.1.HL.TZ1.28:
What is the primary function of the free ribosomes shown in the electron micrograph?
[Source: J Gordon Betts, et al. Anatomy and Physiology. Houston Texas: OpenStax, 2013. https://openstax.org/books/
anatomy-and-physiology/pages/3-2-the-cytoplasm-and-cellular-organelles. Image file available at https://commons.
wikimedia.org/wiki/File:0313_Endoplasmic_Reticulum.jpg#/media/File:0313_Endoplasmic_Reticulum_b_labeled.
png. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license. https://creativecommons.org/
licenses/by/3.0/deed.en.]A. Synthesize proteins to be used within the cell
B. Synthesize proteins for use in lysosomes
C. Carry amino acids to mRNA for protein synthesis
D. Synthesize proteins for secretion
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18N.2.HL.TZ0.2a.i:
Label a peptide bond in the diagram of a polypeptide.
-
18M.2.HL.TZ2.2c.ii:
Outline the role of tRNA activating enzymes in translation.
- 16N.1.HL.TZ0.27: What does post-transcriptional modification of eukaryotic mRNA include? I. Introns are removed...
- 17M.1.HL.TZ1.28: Which types of interactions are found in a part of a protein with secondary but not tertiary...
- 17M.2.HL.TZ2.6b: Outline the roles of the different binding sites for tRNA on ribosomes during translation.
-
17N.2.HL.TZ0.07b:
Nitrogen is part of many important substances in living organisms.
Distinguish between transcription and translation.
- 17N.1.HL.TZ0.28: Which cell component synthesizes actin and myosin? A. Free ribosomes B. Rough endoplasmic...
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22M.1.HL.TZ1.28:
This DNA sequence was used to synthesize a polypeptide.
DNA (sense strand): 3′ T A C T G A 5′
DNA (template strand): 5′ A T G A C T 3′
Which are the bases of the tRNA (anticodons)?
A. T A C T G A
B. U A C U G A
C. A U G A C U
D. A T G A C T
- 18M.2.HL.TZ2.2c.i: Outline the role of the A-site of ribosomes in translation.
- 17M.1.SL.TZ1.1: Which structure found in eukaryotes has a single membrane? A. Nucleus B. Lysosome C....
- 21M.1.HL.TZ2.28: The mRNA codon UAC codes for the amino acid tyrosine. Which tRNA carries tyrosine?
-
19M.1.HL.TZ1.28:
The image shows a polysome in a bacterial cell.
[Source: © International Baccalaureate Organization 2019]
How many genes have been transcribed?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
- 16N.1.HL.TZ0.26: Where does a tRNA-activating enzyme attach the appropriate amino acid to the tRNA molecule?
- 18N.2.HL.TZ0.2a.ii: Outline the primary structure of proteins.
-
18M.1.HL.TZ2.12:
In which image are polysomes visible? (The images do not have the same magnification)
-
20N.2.HL.TZ0.6c:
Explain how polypeptides are produced by the process of translation.
- 18M.1.HL.TZ1.28: What are polysomes? A. Strings of amino acids B. Packages of eight histones with DNA C. Many...
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19N.1.HL.TZ0.27:
In the diagram of a ribosome, which letter indicates the P site?
[Source: iStock.com/ttsz]
- 16N.1.HL.TZ0.28: Variations in the types of antibodies are produced by mRNA splicing. What is an advantage of this...
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22M.1.HL.TZ2.28:
The diagram shows the structure of E. coli ribonuclease HI, a bacterial protein consisting of one polypeptide chain.
[Source: RCSB PDB. 1JL1 D10A E. coli ribonuclease HI. PDB DOI: 10.2210/pdb1JL1/pdb Mol* (Goedken, E.R., Marqusee, S. Native-state energetics of a thermostabilized variant of ribonuclease HI. (2001) J Mol Biol 314:
863–871 DOI:10.1006/jmbi.2001.5184) [image online] Available at: https://www.rcsb.org/structure/1jl1
[Accessed 25 November 2019]. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/).]Which level(s) of protein structure is/are shown?
A. Alpha helix only
B. Quaternary only
C. Primary and secondary
D. Secondary and tertiary
- 18M.2.HL.TZ2.4a: The diagram shows alpha amylase. Explain the secondary structure of this protein molecule.
- 19N.2.HL.TZ0.6c: Explain how a polypeptide chain is synthesized in a eukaryotic cell.
- 19N.1.HL.TZ0.28: How do R group interactions contribute to protein structure? I. Determining the sequence of...
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21N.2.HL.TZ0.4b:
Describe the secondary structure of proteins.