Question

Tobramycin in an antibiotic commonly prescribed for bacterial conjectivitis (pink-eye). Tobramycin works by inhibiting the assembly of the 30S and 50S ribosomal subunits.

a. Would mRNA binding and initiator tRNA binding still be likely to occur in bacteria undergoing tobramycin treatment? Briefly explain your rationale.

b. Both the 30S and 40S ribosomal subunits contain non-coding RNAs with ribozyme activity. Name and briefly describe the role of one other non-coding RNA in the cell.

Answer 1

Question a

Antibiotic tobramycin binding to the 30S and 50S ribosome unit will still result in the binding of the tRNA and mRNA binding. This is because in stages of translation, intially the tRNA will bind to the small unit of ribosome. After the binding of tRNA and small unit of ribosome, large unit of ribosome join with small unit of ribosome. Therefore, the mRNA binding and initiator tRNA binding still be likely to occur.

Question b

siRNA is the non-coding RNA because it do not translate into the protein. The function of siRNA is in silencing the transcription and regulating the post transcription gene silencing.