Transcription and RNA Processing (1B) Practice Test

A team uses an in vitro transcription system with purified RNA polymerase II and general transcription factors to transcribe a DNA template encoding a stress-response enzyme. They add either (i) all four rNTPs, (ii) all four dNTPs, or (iii) all four rNTPs plus an RNase that degrades single-stranded RNA. Which condition is expected to yield the highest amount of full-length RNA transcript?

A lab compares two alleles of a metabolic regulator gene differing by a single nucleotide at the 5' splice site of intron 1. Allele M weakens complementarity to U1 snRNA. Cells carrying Allele M show increased intron 1 retention and reduced protein levels, despite similar transcription rates.

Which intervention would most directly rescue mature mRNA production from Allele M?