Question

Are there nucleotide substitutions that will not be detected by electrophoretic studies of a gene's protein product?

Short answer

Explain your answer. Answer: Yes, there are nucleotide substitutions that will not be detected by electrophoretic studies of a gene's protein product. Synonymous substitutions, which do not change the amino acid sequence, will not be detected since the protein product is identical to the original. Additionally, non-synonymous substitutions that do not significantly alter the protein's size, charge, or shape might not be detected by electrophoresis.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding nucleotide substitutions

Nucleotide substitutions are changes in the DNA sequence where one nucleotide (A, T, C, or G) is replaced with another. There are two main types of nucleotide substitutions: synonymous (silent) and non-synonymous (missense) substitutions. Synonymous substitutions do not change the amino acid encoded by a codon, while non-synonymous substitutions change the amino acid encoded by a codon.

Understanding electrophoresis

Electrophoresis is a laboratory technique used to separate molecules, like proteins, based on their size, charge, or shape. In the context of studying a gene's protein product, electrophoresis is used to separate the protein of interest from other proteins in a sample. The separated proteins can be visualized as distinct bands on a gel, and their relative positions can provide information about the effects of nucleotide substitutions on the protein product.

Effects of nucleotide substitutions on electrophoresis

A nucleotide substitution can have different effects on the electrophoretic behavior of a protein depending on the type of substitution and the amino acid(s) involved: 1. Synonymous substitution: Since it does not change the amino acid sequence, the protein product is identical to the original, and it will have the same electrophoretic behavior. In this case, the nucleotide substitution will not be detected by electrophoretic studies of the protein product. 2. Non-synonymous substitution: The substitution changes the amino acid sequence of the protein and might alter its size, charge, or shape, which can potentially be detected by electrophoresis. However, if the amino acid change has minimal impact on the protein's electrophoretic behavior, the substitution might not be detected.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are nucleotide substitutions that will not be detected by electrophoretic studies of a gene's protein product. Most notably, synonymous substitutions and non-synonymous substitutions that do not significantly alter the protein's size, charge, or shape will not be detected by electrophoretic studies.