A Team of Researchers has Been Able to Successfully Study the Highly Complex Molecular Structure of Mitoribosomes

Reading Passage Question

A team of researchers has been able to successfully study the highly complex molecular structure of mitoribosomes, which are the ribosomes of mitochondria. Ribosomes are found in the cells of all living organisms, and they serve as a primary location for biological protein synthesis, but certain organisms such as fungi, plants, animals, and humans contain much more complex ribosomes than bacteria do. In organisms with complex cells, ribosomes can also be divided into two types: those in the cytosol -- which comprises the majority of the cell -- and those found in the mitochondria or "power houses" of cells. Mitochondria are found only in eukaryotes. Every ribosome consists of two subunits. The smaller subunit uses transfer ribonucleic acids to decode the genetic code, which is stored in the DNA, it receives in the form of messenger ribonucleic acids, while the larger subunit joins the amino acids delivered by the transfer ribonucleic acids together like a string of pearls.

Since they are found only in small amounts and are difficult to isolate, mitochondrial ribosomes or mitoribosomes are particularly difficult to study. But because of the recent technical advances in cryo-electron microscopy and the development of direct electron detection cameras that can correct for specimen motion during the exposure, it recently became possible to capture images of biomolecules at a resolution high enough to capture the details, especially those of the peptidyl transferase centre (PTC).

This research is of special importance to producing the right kind of antibiotics for humans. PTC is where the amino acid building blocks are combined, leading to protein synthesis. As per the researchers, this process of synthesizing proteins is medically relevant as the tunnel through which the proteins pass, after being synthesized, is a target for specific antibiotics. The antibiotic blocks the tunnel, preventing the proteins that have just been synthesized from leaving the tunnel. However, for an antibiotic to be used in humans, it must not attack human ribosomes and should inhibit protein synthesis only in the ribosomes of bacteria. The problem arises since mitochondrial ribosomes resemble those of bacteria, which is why certain antibiotics also interfere with mitoribosomes, possibly leading to serious side effects. The findings of the research will make it possible in the future to design antibiotics that inhibit only bacterial and not mitochondrial ribosomes, the one basic requirement for using them in clinical applications.

“A team of researchers has been able to successfully study the highly complex molecular structure of mitoribosomes” - is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Candidates need a strong knowledge of English GMAT reading comprehension.

This GMAT Reading Comprehension consists of 4 comprehension questions. The GMAT Reading Comprehension questions are designed for the purpose of testing candidates’ abilities in understanding, analyzing, and applying information or concepts. Candidates can actively prepare with the help of GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.

Solution and Explanation

1. The author is primarily concerned with

1. To encapsulate the significance of a key medical research
2. To evaluate the achievements and failure of a study undertaken to understand the workings of antibiotics on humans
3. To educate the reader about the functions of certain parts and how certain antibiotics can be harmful to these parts
4. To discuss the relevance of a research while setting the context for it
5. To describe a key medical finding while discussing some of the key problems faced by the pharmaceutical companies

2. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

1. The same antibiotic will have different reactions on humans and animals.
2. The pharmaceutical companies that have been producing antibiotics that inadvertently harm people by blocking the release of the proteins will gain significant monetary benefit from producing antibiotics that do not attack the human body in such a way.
3. The quantity of a specific kind of ribosomes was partly responsible for the limited success in studying them.
4. Without the latest technical advances in cryo-electron microscopy, it would not have been possible to study mitoribosomes at all.
5. Mitoribosomes are the only kind of ribosomes that are adversely affected by antibiotics.

3. Which of the following is mentioned in the passage?

1. The attack on human ribosomes by certain antibiotics could prove fatal.
2. Ribosomes are solely responsible for producing protein in the body.
3. Ribosomes are defenseless against the attack launched by certain antibiotics on them.
4. All living organisms have ribosomes that can be divided into two types.
5. Ribosomes in humans are not as simple as the ones found in bacteria.

4. Which of the following most aptly describes the function of the first paragraph?

1. To discuss the overall functioning of the human body
2. To explain the scope of relevance of the mentioned research
3. To give details about two unrelated concepts
4. To mention an achievement while setting the context for it
5. To provide information about ribosomes particularly about mitoribosomes

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