Role of an MRNA Messenger
Messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) works within the cell to manufacture proteins that the body requires. The process starts with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) within the cell nucleus, and ends up with the synthesis of proteins, vital for all the structures and functions within the body.
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What Is DNA?
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There are two different types of nucleic acids: deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). DNA is made up of double-stranded strings of four bases, adeinine (A), guanine (G), thymine (T) and cytosine (C). Along the double rows of DNA, bases line up opposite each other A-T and G-C. These double strands of bases line up in what is known as a helical structure. DNA is often called a double helix because of this structure.
What Is RNA?
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Functions within the cell cause the two strands of DNA to unzip. The single strands of DNA are then able to manufacture RNA by again lining up bases opposite the bases on the single strand. Ribonucleic acid is different from DNA in that it has Uracil (U) as a base instead of Thymine. RNA is also different from DNA in that RNA is a single strand of bases, instead of the double stranded DNA. There are three types of RNA, ribosomal RNA, messenger RNA and transfer RNA. Each does a different job within the cell.
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What Is Messenger RNA?
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Messenger RNA (mRNA) is the molecule responsible for assembling amino acids into proteins. After mRNA is synthesized from a single strand of DNA, it moves out of the nucleus of the cell and into the cell cytoplasm. A ribosome within the cytoplasm moves along the mRNA strand and reads reads the A-U-C-G code, three bases at a time. Each three-base string is a code for a certain amino acid. For instance, if the ribosome reads U-C-A, it assembles the amino acid serine onto the protein being formed.
Protein Synthesis
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The ribosome continues down the strand of RNA reading the three base sequences. Once the ribosome reaches the end of the mRNA strand, the process is finished, and a complete protein is available for utilization by the body.
Why Are Proteins Important?
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The synthesis of proteins by mRNA play a vital role in the growth and maintenance of the body. As we eat food, the proteins are broken down into the amino acids and reassembled with the help of mRNA, into specific proteins required by the body. Some of these proteins may be required to build bones, muscles and other tissues. Some may be secreted as hormones or other regulators of bodily functions.
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References
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