RNA Vaccines: Minimal impurities can have serious consequences by initiating frameshift mutations
Frameshift mutations indeed arise from the insertion or deletion of nucleotides in a DNA sequence, altering the reading frame of the genetic code. This shift can have significant consequences for protein translation, leading to the production of entirely different proteins or truncated proteins that may be non-functional or detrimental to the organism.
In the context of hypothetical impurities incorporated into a genetic sequence, even minimal levels of these impurities can pose a risk. If these impurities are nucleotides that are inserted into or deleted from the coding sequence, they can disrupt the triplet codon structure of mRNA. As a result, the ribosomes might read the subsequent codons incorrectly, resulting in the synthesis of a protein that bears little resemblance to the intended product.
This alteration can fundamentally change the structure and function of the resulting protein, potentially leading to dysfunctional or toxic proteins, loss of function, or gain of harmful functions.
Moreover, the effects of such impurities are not limited to a single protein; they can affect entire pathways and networks within the cell or organism. This risk of frameshift mutations necessitates careful consideration of genetic engineering processes, particularly when introducing foreign DNA or manipulating genetic sequences in sensitive biological systems.