MRNAs, also known as messenger RNAs, are a type of RNA (ribonucleic acid) molecule that plays a crucial role in protein synthesis. Specifically, they act as an intermediary between the genetic information stored in DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and the production of proteins in the cells.
The process of protein synthesis begins in the cell nucleus, where DNA carries the necessary instructions for protein formation. However, DNA cannot directly leave the nucleus, so MRNAs are responsible for carrying the genetic information from DNA to the ribosomes in the cytoplasm or endoplasmic reticulum.
MRNAs are created through a process called transcription, in which the DNA sequence corresponding to a specific gene is transcribed into a complementary RNA sequence. This newly formed mRNA molecule then undergoes various modifications, such as adding a protective cap at one end and a poly-A tail at the other end, to ensure stability and efficient translation.
Once the mature mRNA is ready, it binds with ribosomes, the cellular structures responsible for protein synthesis. The ribosomes read the mRNA sequence in sets of three nucleotides, called codons, and match them to specific transfer RNAs (tRNAs) carrying the corresponding amino acids. This process is known as translation and is instrumental in the correct assembly of amino acids into a functional protein.
In summary, MRNAs are the transcribed copies of DNA that serve as intermediaries between genes and proteins. They carry the genetic instructions required for protein synthesis from the cell nucleus to the ribosomes, where their sequence is translated into the appropriate amino acids.
