5' untranslated regions
5' Untranslated Regions (5' UTR)
5' Untranslated Regions (5' UTR), pronounced as "five prime untranslated regions", are important sections of mRNA that are located upstream of the coding sequence. They play a crucial role in the regulation of gene expression.
Etymology
The term "5' untranslated region" is derived from the structure of mRNA. The "5'" refers to the five prime end of the mRNA molecule, which is the end that is synthesized first during transcription. The term "untranslated" refers to the fact that this region does not code for proteins, and "region" refers to its location on the mRNA molecule.
Function
The 5' UTR is involved in the regulation of gene expression. It contains regulatory elements that influence the efficiency of translation by interacting with the ribosome, the cellular machinery that synthesizes proteins. The 5' UTR can also contain upstream open reading frames (uORFs) that can modulate the translation of the main coding sequence.
Related Terms
- mRNA: Messenger RNA, the type of RNA that carries the genetic information from DNA to the ribosome.
- Gene expression: The process by which the information in a gene is used to produce a functional product, such as a protein.
- Transcription: The process of copying a segment of DNA into RNA.
- Translation: The process of synthesizing a protein based on the information in mRNA.
- Ribosome: The cellular machinery that synthesizes proteins.
- Upstream open reading frames (uORFs): Sequences in the 5' UTR that can be translated into peptides and can modulate the translation of the main coding sequence.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on 5' untranslated regions
- Wikipedia's article - 5' untranslated regions
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