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Question #47760
The Question
During the downstream processing of a recombinant therapeutic protein, the product undergoes rapid, premature fragmentation, drastically reducing the active yield. Sequence analysis reveals the protein contains a structural motif highly homologous to the cleavage site of the HIV polyprotein. To maximize the yield of the intact recombinant protein, which of the following interventions should be applied, and which specific phase of the HIV life cycle does this fragmentation parallel?
Options
- A.
Adding a specific protease inhibitor to the extraction buffer; parallels the viral maturation phase where polyproteins are cleaved into functional structural proteins.
- B.
Introducing a reverse transcriptase inhibitor during the separation phase; parallels the initial conversion of the viral RNA genome into cDNA in macrophages.
- C.
Utilizing an integrase inhibitor prior to formulation; parallels the prevention of provirus integration into the host cell's genome.
- D.
Adding a restriction endonuclease inhibitor to the lysis buffer; parallels the protection of viral mRNA from host defense mechanisms during translation.
Check Your Answer
Correct Answer
Step-by-Step Solution
Explanation
How the Examiner Thinks
Comparative_Analysis
Sharpen your ability to evaluate multiple scenarios and distinguish between competing potential answers.
Concepts Behind This Question
PCR Primer Design|Non-Coding Strand Utility|Taq Polymerase
Why This Question Is Tricky
Common Mistakes
Conceptual Pivot: Students often memorize the HIV replication cycle focusing heavily on Reverse Transcriptase and Macrophage entry, but overlook the post-translational maturation phase involving proteases.
The trap relies on Functional Overlap and Substrate Specificity—forcing the student to distinguish between enzymes that act on nucleic acids (RT, Integrase, Endonucleases) versus those that act on proteins (Proteases) in an applied Biotechnology (Downstream Processing) context.
Quick Facts About This Question
Question Information
| Subject | Biology |
| Chapter | Biotechnology : Principles and Processes - Class 12 |
| Concept | PCR Primer Design |
| Difficulty | 8 |
| Cognitive Load | 5 |
| Target Solve Time | 120 sec |
| Access | Free |