Question

How does the conformation of mRNA regulate gene expression by attenuation?

Short answer

If it is inhibitory, then it will inhibit the process. meaning as the concentration of the specific molecule to which the attenuator binds increases the expression decreases.

Step-by-step solution

Ribonucleic acid.

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a molecule synthesized from DNA in animals and is found in single stranded form naturally. It plays many essential biological roles in regulation and expression of genes and coding and decoding of genes. RNA is made up of four main nitrogenous bases— Adenine (A), Uralic (U), Guanine (G), and Cytosine (C). Viruses have RNA as their genetic material whereas other organisms have DNA as their genetic material.

mRNA is messenger RNA.

This mRNA is formed from DNA by a process known as transcription. This mRNA further mediates the protein synthesis by expressing genes, a process therefore known as gene expression.

Attenuation is a process in which premature transcription occurs—meaning the process of transcription is stopped by some stop signal which is nothing but a molecule known as attenuator. Attenuator is nothing but a type of molecule which brings about the change in the structure of RNA. There can be different attenuators based on the change in the mRNA structure.