Question

The enzyme telomerase is part protein and part RNA. What would be the most likely effect of a large deletion in the gene that encodes the RNA part of telomerase, and how would the function of telomerase be affected? Select all that apply. A.Telomerase would be unable to correctly associate with telomeres. B.The catalytic center of telomerase, the polymerase, would be altered. extend the telomere. C.Telomerase would be unable to proofread its DNA product but would still D.The telomerase enzyme would be able to make only a few telomeric repeats E.Telomerase would lose the ability to synthesize new telomeric sequences to before falling off.

Answer 1

Answer: option A, B and D

Explanation:

The telomeres found at the terminal ends of eukaryotic chromosomes are long repetitive sequences that protects the DNA from being identify as a damage molecule to encourage fusion with other chromosomes. Since replication does not extend down to these 3' ends, the cell recruits the telomerase enzyme which is a ribonucleoprotein that helps to add telomeric repeats using its own RNA component as template to extend this end. Thus if mutation like a large deletion occurs in the gene encoding for this enzyme, the telomerase would not be able to associate correctly with the telomere, the catalytic center also encoding for its RNA polymerase would be altered and the enzymes will not be able to synthesize new telomeric repeats sequences