Question

If a single gene contains information for synthesis of more than one hormone molecule, A. all the hormones are produced by any tissue that expresses the gene. B. all hormone molecules are identical. C. cleavage sites in the gene product are typically pairs of basic amino acids. D. all peptides of the gene product have well-defined biological activity. E. hormones all have similar function.

Short answer

Answer: Cleavage sites in the gene product are typically pairs of basic amino acids.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding the options

First, let's look at each of the statements and analyze their accuracy in the context of gene expression and hormone synthesis: A. all the hormones are produced by any tissue that expresses the gene. B. all hormone molecules are identical. C. cleavage sites in the gene product are typically pairs of basic amino acids. D. all peptides of the gene product have well-defined biological activity. E. hormones all have similar function.

Assessing the statements

A. This statement assumes that any tissue that expresses the gene would produce all the hormones. While it is possible for a gene to be expressed in multiple tissues, it is not necessarily true that all the hormones would be produced by every tissue expressing the gene. B. This statement suggests that all hormone molecules would be identical, which is incorrect, as different hormones have different structures and functions. C. Cleavage sites in the gene product refer to the points where a precursor protein is cut to produce different hormone molecules. The presence of basic amino acid pairs (e.g., arginine and lysine) at cleavage sites is indeed typical for proteins like prohormone convertases, which are involved in the processing of polypeptide hormone precursors. D. This statement implies that all peptides of the gene product would have a well-defined biological activity. While it is possible that some of the peptides may have biological activity, it is not necessarily true for all peptides. E. This statement states that all hormones would have similar functions. While hormones sharing common characteristics may have similar functions, it is not accurate to assume that all hormones synthesized from the same gene have similar functions.

Choosing the most accurate statement

Based on the analysis of the statements, statement C is the most accurate: "Cleavage sites in the gene product are typically pairs of basic amino acids." This statement reflects the fact that basic amino acid pairs are often involved in the processing of polypeptide hormone precursors, allowing for the synthesis of different hormone molecules from a single gene.