What does UTR mean in GEOLOGY
UTR stands for Un-Translated Region. These regions are found in DNA and RNA molecules and serve a range of purposes which help to regulate the expression of genetic information. This article will provide a brief overview of what UTRs are and how they work.
UTR meaning in Geology in Academic & Science
UTR mostly used in an acronym Geology in Category Academic & Science that means Un-Translated Region
Shorthand: UTR,
Full Form: Un-Translated Region
For more information of "Un-Translated Region", see the section below.
Definition
The Un-Translated Region (UTR) is a sequence of nucleotides located at the 5' or 3' end of a gene's mRNA sequence which does not code for protein. It is thus not translated into protein during protein synthesis, unlike the coding region or exons of the gene which do code for proteins. UTRs play an important role in gene expression, including transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation.
Function
The main function of Un-Translated Regions (UTRs) is to regulate the assembly and function of ribonucleoprotein complexes involved in mRNA translation, stability, localization, and other processes such as alternative splicing. In addition to this, UTRs can act as binding sites for regulatory factors such as microRNAs which modulate mRNA abundance by either increasing or decreasing its stability. Furthermore, they can also act as enhancers that control the rate at which a gene is expressed and thus influence when it is active in various tissues or organs.
Characteristic Features
Un-Translated Regions have several distinct characteristics that make them distinct from coding sequences or exons in genes. These features include higher GC content compared to codons, frequent secondary structures such as hairpins or quadruplexes formed due to guanine rich stretches within them, presence of cis-regulatory elements such as enhancers and silencers that control when the gene will be expressed and finally presence of transcription factor binding sites that allow for specific DNA binding proteins to target these regions for further regulation downstream.
Essential Questions and Answers on Un-Translated Region in "SCIENCE»GEOLOGY"
What is a UTR?
UTR stands for Un-Translated Region. It's a section of non-coding DNA in eukaryotic cells that is not transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA) during the process of gene expression.
How does UTR help in transcription?
UTR serves as regulatory elements that help control gene expression. In particular, it helps to regulate the amount and timing of mRNA produced from gene transcription, which determines the amount and timing of proteins produced from translation.
What is the difference between 3'UTR and 5'UTR?
The 3'UTR or 3' untranslated region is found at the end of an mRNA molecule while the 5'UTR or 5' untranslated region is located on the beginning of an mRNA molecule. Both regions don't code for proteins and therefore are not translated into amino acids upon genetic translation.
What happens if a gene has no UTR?
If a gene lacks a UTR, then it could lead to uncontrolled production of proteins from that gene, which might disrupt normal cellular processes. If this occurs, it can cause problems such as developmental disorders, cancer and other diseases.
How are UTRs identified?
Researchers can use computer algorithms to identify UTRs by searching for patterns such as conserved sequences, polyadenylation signals, alternative splicing sites etc., among genomic data sets like expressed sequence tags (ESTs).
What type of information do UTRs contain?
UTRs often contain information related to regulation and control of mRNA processing including stop codons, alternative polyadenylation sites and regulatory sequences like binding sites for microRNAs or transcription factors.
Is there any evolutionary significance to UTRs?
Yes! By studying changes in lengths or sequences in UTR regions over different species can provide insights into how genes have evolved over time. This can help us understand how species have adapted to changing environments through natural selection and other processes.
Who discovered UTRs?
The discovery of Untranslated Regions was made by Ernst H"agelberg in 1975 when he was studying structural differences between “bacterial RNAs†(16S rRNA) obtained from various sources using gel electrophoresis. Since then research on understanding their function has been ongoing ever since.
Are humans impacted by genetic mutations in their 3'UTRs?
Yes! Mutations in human genes causing diseases often occur specifically within 3'UTRs due to its crucial role in regulation and stability of mRNA molecules - This suggests that naturally occurring mutations affecting members of their population often target these regulatory regions.
Final Words:
In conclusion, Un-Translated Regions are sequences located at the 5' or 3' end of an mRNA sequence which do not code for proteins but instead act as regulatory elements that control processes such as transcript stability, alternative splicing complexity, translational efficiency etcetera. Despite its non-coding nature these regions harbour multiple cis-regulatory elements that allow for fine tuning of mRNA expression levels making them critical components in many biological systems.
UTR also stands for: |
|
| All stands for UTR |