Replies to post #26266 on Biotech Values

[DewDiligence]

>Think of it as a machine blueprint; if you lose one of two copies of the blueprint, you can still build two of the machines based on the single blueprint. As it related to RNA / protein: You have two RNA transcripts. Neither is silenced, and you get 2 molecules of protein. Now you silence one of those transcripts. It is still possible to get 2 molecules of protein from the single transcript that is not silenced.<

Clearly, the non-silenced mRNA do not pick up all of the slack or the serum level of the protein in question would show no measurable change. However, you’ve asserted that the non-silenced mRNA do pick up some of the slack via an increase in the average number of “uses” per mRNA. What I would like to understand is the mathematical model of how the average uses per mRNA varies with the proportion of silencing achieved.

[rfj1862]

Also the rate-limiting step for a very actively transcribed gene is generally not the amount of mRNA available but something else--probably the availability of free ribosomes to synthesize protein.