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Messenger RNA (mRNA)

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Estimated time: 10 minutes
CISCE: Class 12

Introduction

  • Messenger RNA, or mRNA, is the RNA molecule that carries the coded message from DNA to ribosomes for protein synthesis.
  • It is also called template RNA because it acts as the template during the formation of proteins.
  • mRNA carries the genetic code needed to determine the sequence of amino acids in a protein.
CISCE: Class 12

Structure and composition

  • mRNA is generally single-stranded and does not show a secondary or double-helical structure.
  • Its primary structure is similar to a portion of one strand of DNA.
  • During its formation, uracil is present in place of thymine, and the sugar is ribose instead of deoxyribose.
  • The RNA formed is complementary to the DNA template strand because base pairing occurs during transcription.

CISCE: Class 12

Formation and role

  • mRNA is formed during the synthesis of RNA from DNA by the process of transcription.
  • In this process, a particular region of the DNA molecule is copied into RNA.
  • After formation, mRNA moves with the coded message and delivers it to ribosomes.
  • At the ribosome, it directs protein synthesis by specifying the amino acid sequence of the protein being formed.
  • mRNA is generally short-lived compared with other RNA types.
  • In bacteria, its half-life is only a few minutes, so it does not accumulate in the cell.
CISCE: Class 12

Size, types, and location

  • mRNA is the most heterogeneous RNA in terms of size and stability.
  • Its size depends on the size of the protein for which it codes.
  • In E. coli, the average size of mRNA is about 900 to 1500 nucleotide units.
  • mRNA occurs in the nucleolar region as well as in the cytoplasm of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
  • When mRNA carries codons for one complete protein, it is called monocistronic mRNA.
  • When it carries codes from several adjacent DNA cistrons and becomes longer, it is called polycistronic mRNA.
CISCE: Class 12

Key Points: Messenger RNA (mRNA)

  • Messenger RNA (mRNA) is the most variable RNA in size and stability and is generally short-lived.
  • It is single-stranded and has a primary structure complementary to a specific DNA segment.
  • mRNA is formed by transcription, where uracil replaces thymine and ribose replaces deoxyribose.
  • It carries genetic information from DNA to ribosomes and acts as a template for protein synthesis.
  • mRNA may be monocistronic (coding for one protein) or polycistronic (coding for multiple proteins).
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