A single-stranded nucleic acid that passes along genetic messages and helps the process of protein synthesis
The single-stranded nucleic acid that passes along genetic messages and aids in the process of protein synthesis is called messenger RNA (mRNA)
The single-stranded nucleic acid that passes along genetic messages and aids in the process of protein synthesis is called messenger RNA (mRNA). mRNA plays a crucial role in the central dogma of molecular biology, which is the flow of genetic information from DNA to mRNA and then to protein.
mRNA is synthesized by a process called transcription, which occurs in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells and in the cytoplasm of prokaryotic cells. During transcription, an enzyme called RNA polymerase binds to a specific region on the DNA molecule known as the promoter. The DNA strand acts as a template for the RNA polymerase to synthesize a complementary mRNA molecule.
Once synthesized, the mRNA molecule undergoes a process called mRNA processing, which involves the addition of a cap structure at the 5′ end and a poly-A tail at the 3′ end. These modifications help protect the mRNA from degradation and assist in its transport out of the nucleus to the cytoplasm.
In the cytoplasm, the mRNA molecule binds to ribosomes, the cellular structures responsible for protein synthesis. This binding occurs at a specific sequence of three nucleotides on the mRNA called the start codon, typically AUG. The ribosome then reads the mRNA sequence in sets of three nucleotides, known as codons, and uses the genetic code to translate each codon into a specific amino acid. This process continues until a stop codon is reached, signaling the end of protein synthesis.
By carrying the genetic information from DNA to ribosomes, mRNA plays a vital role in determining the amino acid sequence of a protein. The sequence of amino acids, in turn, determines the structure and function of the protein, enabling it to carry out its cellular role. Without mRNA, the information encoded in DNA would not be effectively transferred to create proteins necessary for life processes.
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