Work sheet 1.

5 3 Nucleic acids

1. The diagram shows the part of the process in protein synthesis known as translation
occurring at organelle X within a cell.

a) (i) State where organelle X is to be found in a cell. [1]

(ii) Name organelle X and state the names of the two chemical components which it is
made of. [3]

Name:

Component 1:

Component 2:

(iii) Name molecules A and B. [2]

A:

B:
b) (i) Describe how two amino acids are joined together. Name the bond formed. [3]

(ii) Name one other molecule, not shown in the diagram, that is needed for the process
of translation. [1]

c) (i) A random change can occur in the sequence of DNA bases, which code for a protein

molecule. State the general name given to this type of change. [1]

(ii) With reference to the process of protein synthesis, explain how a change in the base
sequence of DNA could cause a non-functional protein to be made. [2]

Image from BI1 June 007

2. A haemoglobin molecule contains four polypeptide chains, two α chains and two β chains, as
shown in the diagram.

Image above adapted from Summer 2014, Q3.

a) (i) What is the highest level of protein structure shown by this molecule? [1]

(ii) According to the one gene one polypeptide hypothesis, how many genes are required
to code for this haemoglobin molecule? [1]

The diagram below shows the first nine amino acids of β chain, together with the nucleotide
base sequence of the gene which codes for its synthesis:

More than 300 variations in the amino acid sequence of the β chain have been recorded.
The table below shows some of them.

Amino acid Amino acid

Name of variation Mutation
number substitution
Raleigh 1 val to ala GTG to GCG
Deer Lodge 2 his to arg CAC to CGC
Warwickshire 5 pro to arg CCT to TCT
 S 6 ? GAG to GTG
Rio Grande 8 lys to thr AAG to ?

b) Complete the diagram to show the amino acid sequence in the Rio Grande variation. [1]

Val – his – leu – thr – pro - - - -

The table shows the amino acids coded for by different DNA base triplets.

c) Use the table to find:

(i) One mutation which causes the Rio Grande variant. [1]

AAG to………………………………………………………………….
(ii) The amino acid substitution that occurs in the S variant. [1]

………………………………………….. to ………………………………………………
d) Explain how the substitution of an amino acid in the β-chain could alter the function of
haemoglobin. [3]