Question

The production of casein by rat mammary gland tissue reduces 100 fold in the absence of prolactin hormone. This reduction is due to_____________

(a) Binding of eIF4E by PHAS 1

(b) Greater turnover of mRNA for casein

(c) Lesser synthesis of casein mRNA

(d) Development of secondary structure on mRNA preventing translation

I got this question during an interview.

Query is from Control of Translation in portion Gene Expression : Translation of Cytogenetics

Answer 1

Correct choice is (b) Greater turnover of mRNA for casein

The explanation: It has been seen in vitro that treatment with prolactin only increases the production of casein mRNA to 3 fold, but there is an increase of 100 fold in casein level. So, this must be due to an increase in stability by the change in protein turnover rate.