Explain how a frameshift in reading mRNA affects the translation of the mRNA for the IAV viral protease.

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A frameshift mutation occurs when nucleotides are inserted or deleted from the mRNA sequence, leading to a shift in the reading frame during translation. In the case of the IAV viral protease mRNA, the frameshift mutation alters the normal reading frame, translating a different sequence of codons.

The mRNA is translated to yield 191 amino acids in the normal reading frame. However, when the ribosome encounters the rare codon CGU for arginine (R), there is a relative lack of tRNA-Arg molecules that can efficiently bind to this codon. As a result, the ribosome becomes stalled on the mRNA, pausing translation at that point.