The researcher hypothesizes that the FXR1 gene codes for a protein that binds to mRNAs that encode some of the proteins that damage arteries. Individuals with a particular mutation of the FXR1 gene tend to have high levels of these proteins. Based on this information, predict how the FXR1 protein most likely interacts with the mRNAs.

it is expected that FXR1 interacts with mRNAs by inhibiting them before they are translated into the ribosomes, thereby preventing the production of proteins that cause damage in the arteries.  

Explanation:

The translation is the cellular process in which a messenger RNA (mRNA) is used as template to synthesize a protein in the ribosomes. During translation, ribosomes catalyze the reaction that joins amino acids in order to create a polypeptide chain (i.e., an ordered sequence of amino acids). Diverse types of either synthetically or naturally occurring molecules can inhibit protein production at the level of translation (e.g., siRNAs, proteins, drugs, etc). In this case, it is expected that FXR1 inhibits the mRNAs that encode proteins capable of causing damage in the arteries, thereby a mutation that results in reduced and/or abolished FXR1 function (i.e., a loss of function mutation) will lead to a phenotype with high levels of these proteins.