Polycistronic mRNA
Polycistronic mRNA
Polycistronic mRNA (/ˌpɒliˈsɪstrənɪk ɛmɑːɹˈsiː/), from the Greek roots poly meaning "many", and cistron meaning "gene", is a type of mRNA that encodes multiple proteins. It is a characteristic feature of many prokaryotic organisms.
Etymology
The term "polycistronic" is derived from the Greek words poly meaning "many", and cistron, a term coined by Seymour Benzer in the 1950s to refer to the smallest unit of genetic material that can undergo recombination. The term "mRNA" stands for "messenger RNA", a type of RNA molecule that carries genetic information from DNA to the ribosome, where it specifies the amino acid sequence of the protein products of gene expression.
Function
Polycistronic mRNA molecules are unique in that they contain the coding sequence for multiple proteins. This is in contrast to monocistronic mRNA molecules, which only contain the coding sequence for a single protein. The proteins encoded by a polycistronic mRNA molecule are usually functionally related and are often part of the same operon.
Related Terms
- Operon: A functioning unit of genomic DNA containing a cluster of genes under the control of a single promoter.
- Prokaryote: A unicellular organism that lacks a membrane-bound nucleus, mitochondria, or any other membrane-bound organelle.
- Monocistronic mRNA: A type of mRNA that encodes only one gene product, i.e., has only one coding region.
- Gene expression: The process by which information from a gene is used in the synthesis of a functional gene product.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Polycistronic mRNA
- Wikipedia's article - Polycistronic mRNA
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