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Five prime untranslated region

2:08

5' Untranslated Region | 5' UTR | Five Prime UTR |

1:45

Untranslated Region | UTR | 5' UTR | 3' UTR |

1:57

3' Untranslated Region | 3' UTR | Three Prime UTR |

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Medical vocabulary: What does 5' Untranslated Regions mean

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SHINE DELGARNO, UNTRANSLATED LEADER

The 5′ untranslated region is the region of an mRNA that is directly upstream from the initiation codon. This region is important for the regulation of translation of a transcript by differing mechanisms in viruses, prokaryotes and eukaryotes. While called untranslated, the 5′ UTR or a portion of it is sometimes translated into a protein product. This product can then regulate the translation of the main coding sequence of the mRNA. In many organisms, however, the 5′ UTR is completely untranslated, instead forming complex secondary structure to regulate translation. The 5′ UTR has been found to interact with proteins relating to metabolism; and proteins translate sequences within the 5′ UTR. In addition, this region has been involved in transcription regulation, such as the sex-lethal gene in Drosophila. Regulatory elements within 5′ UTRs have also been linked to mRNA export.
    • General structure 

    • Role in translational regulation 

    • Role in transcriptional regulation