Canadian Medical Guide > Chemicals and Drugs > Nucleic Acids, Nucleotides, and Nucleosides > Nucleic Acids > RNA > RNA, Messenger Terms and Definitions
RNA, Messenger
Medical Definition: | RNA sequences that serve as templates for protein synthesis. Bacterial mRNAs are generally primary transcripts in that they do not require post-transcriptional processing. Eukaryotic mRNA is synthesized in the nucleus and must be exported to the cytoplasm for translation. Most eukaryotic mRNAs have a sequence of polyadenylic acid at the 3' end, referred to as the poly(A) tail. The function of this tail is not known for certain, but it may play a role in the export of mature mRNA from the nucleus as well as in helping stabilize some mRNA molecules by retarding their degradation in the cytoplasm. |
Guide Notes: | IM; /drug eff /ultrastruct permitted; DF: note short X ref |
Also Called: | mRNA, Non-Polyadenylated,mRNA, Polyadenylated,Poly(A) Tail,RNA, Polyadenylated |
Codon - A set of three nucleotides in a protein coding sequence that specifies individual amino acids or a termination signal (CODON, TERMINATOR). Most codons are universal, but some organisms do not produce the transfer RNAs (RNA, TRANSFER) complementary to all codons. These codons are referred to as unassigned codons (CODONS, NONSENSE). | |
RNA Caps - Nucleic acid structures found on the 5' end of eukaryotic cellular and viral messenger RNA and some heterogeneous nuclear RNAs. These structures, which are positively charged, protect the above specified RNAs at their termini against attack by phosphatases and other nucleases and promote mRNA function at the level of initiation of translation. Analogs of the RNA caps (RNA CAP ANALOGS), which lack the positive charge, inhibit the initiation of protein synthesis. | |
RNA Splice Sites - Nucleotide sequences located at the ends of exons and recognized in pre-messenger RNA by the SPLICESOME. They are joined during the RNA SPLICING reaction, forming the junctions between exons. | |
RNA, Messenger, Stored - Messenger RNA that is stored in a masked state for translation at a later time. Distinguish from RNA, UNTRANSLATED which refers to non-messenger RNA, i.e. RNA that does not code for protein. | |
Untranslated Regions - The parts of the messenger RNA sequence that do not code for product, i.e. the 5' UNTRANSLATED REGIONS and 3' UNTRANSLATED REGIONS. |
RNA, Messenger Medical Definitions and Terms
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