What Are Introns and Exons - PDF

3/14/2020 What are Introns and Exons?
MEDICAL HOME (/MEDICAL) Become a Member (/azopro le/login/)  Search... 
About (/life-sciences/about)
(/)
News (/life-sciences/news)
Life Sciences A-Z (/life-sciences-a-z)
White Papers (/life-sciences/whitepapers)
What are Introns and Exons?

Lab Equipment (/Life-Science-and-Laboratory)
Download PDF Copy Interviews (/life-sciences/interviews)
Newsletters (/life-sciences/newsletters)
By Michael Greenwood, M.Sc. (/life-sciences/authors/michael-greenwood)
Webinars (/life-sciences/webinars)
Reviewed by Kate Anderton, B.Sc. (Editor) (/life-sciences/authors/kate-anderton)
More...
Introns and exons are nucleotide sequences within a gene. Introns are removed by RNA splicing as RNA matures, meaning that they
are not expressed in the nal messenger RNA (mRNA) product, while exons go on to be covalently bonded to one another in order
to create mature mRNA.
Introns can be considered as intervening sequences, and exons as expressed sequences.
We use cookies
There are to
anenhance
averageyour experience.
of 8.8 By continuing
exons and to browse
7.8 introns this site
per human you agree to our use of cookies. More info (/privacy#cookies).
gene.
 Accept
Cookie Settings
https://www.news-medical.net/life-sciences/What-are-introns-and-exons.aspx 1/14
(/)
Interviews (/life-sciences/interviews)
DNA structure illustration. Liya Graphics

More.../ Shutterstock
What are Exons?

Exons are nucleotide sequences in DNA and RNA that are conserved in the creation of mature RNA. The process by which DNA is
used as a template to create mRNA is called transcription.
We use cookies
mRNA thento works
enhance
inyour experience.
conjunction By continuing
with ribosomestoand
browse this site
transfer RNAyou(tRNA),
agree toboth
our use of cookies.
present in theMore info (/privacy#cookies).
cytoplasm, to create proteins in a
process known as translation.
 Accept
Cookie Settings
Exons usually include both the 5’- and 3’- untranslated regions of mRNA, which contain start and stop codons, in addition to any
MEDICAL HOME (/MEDICAL)
protein coding sequences. Become a Member (/azopro le/login/)  Search... 
What are Introns?
(/)
Introns are nucleotide sequences in DNA and RNA that do not directly code for proteins, and are removed during the precursor
messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) stage of maturation of mRNA byLife
RNA splicing.
Sciences A-Z (/life-sciences-a-z)
Introns can range in size from 10’s of base pairs to 1000’s White
of base pairs,(/life-sciences/whitepapers)
Papers and can be found in a wide variety of genes that generate
RNA in most living organisms, including viruses.
Four distinct types of introns have been identi ed:
Introns in protein coding genes, removed by spliceosomes

Introns in tRNA genes, which are removed by proteins
Self-splicing introns, which catalyse their own removal from mRNA, tRNA, and rRNA precursors Webinars
using guanosine-5'-
(/life-sciences/webinars)
triphosphate (GTP), or another nucleotide cofactor (Group 1)
Self-splicing introns, which do not require GTP in order to remove themselves
More... (Group 2)
It is vital for the introns to be removed precisely, as any left-over intron nucleotides, or deletion of exon nucleotides, may result in a
faulty protein being produced. This is because the amino acids that make up proteins are joined together based on codons, which
consist of three nucleotides. An imprecise intron removal thus may result in a frameshift, which means that the genetic code would
be read incorrectly.
We use cookies to explained

enhance your
This can be by experience. By continuing
using the following to browse
phrase this site youfor
as a metaphor agree
an to our use
exon: “BOBof cookies.
THE BIGMore
TANinfo (/privacy#cookies).
CAT”. If the intron before this
exon was imprecisely removed, so that the “B” was no longer present, then the sequence would become unreadable: “OBT HEB IGT
ANC AT…”  Accept
Cookie Settings
Introns vs Exons
(/)
More...
RNA Splicing
We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing to browse this site you agree to our use of cookies. More info (/privacy#cookies).
RNA splicing is the method by which pre-mRNA is made into mature mRNA, by removal of
introns and joining together of exons. Several methods of splicing exist, depending on the Related Stories
 Accept
organism, type of RNA or intron structure, and the presence of catalysts.
Cookie Settings
Introns possess a highly conserved GU sequence at their 5’ end, known as the donor site, New drug provides hope for
Become a Member (/azopro le/login/)  Search... 
and a highly conservedMEDICAL HOME (/MEDICAL)
AG sequence at the 3’ end, called the acceptor site. A large RNA- patients with Duchenne
protein complex, the spliceosome, made up of ve small nuclear ribonucleoproteins muscular dystrophy
(snRNPs) recognise the start and end points of the intron thanksAbout (/life-sciences/about)
to these sites, and (/news/20190710/New-drug-
catalyse
(/)the removal of the intron accordingly. The spliceosome forms the intron into a provides-hope-for-patients-
loop that can be cleaved easily, and the remaining RNA on each side of the intron is with-Duchenne-muscular-
connected. Other types of spliceosomes that recognise unusual or mutated intron dystrophy.aspx)
sequences also exist, known as minor spliceosomes. Scientists uncover functions of
White Papers (/life-sciences/whitepapers) mysterious organelles in stress
tRNA splicing is far rarer, though does occur in all three major domains of life, bacteria, response
archaea and eukarya. Multiple enzymes ll the role of snRNPs in a step-wise
Lab Equipment process,
(/Life-Science-and-Laboratory) (/news/20191201/Scientists-
which can vary wildly between organisms. uncover-functions-of-
mysterious-organelles-in-stress-
Self-splicing introns are usually found in RNA molecules that are intended to catalyse response.aspx)
biochemical reactions, ribozymes. Group 1 introns are attacked at the 5’ splice site by a
SATI gene editing could replace
nucleotide cofactor, which may be free in the biological milieu or a part of the intron itself,
CRISPR (/news/20190902/SATI-
leading to the 3’OH of the adjacent exon to become nucleophilic and thus bond to the 5’
gene-editing-could-replace-
end of another exon, following the formation of the intron into a loop. Group 2 introns are
More... CRISPR.aspx)
spliced in a similar way, though with the use of a speci c adenosine that attacks the 5’
splice site.
Alternative Splicing
Alternative splicing refers to the way that di erent combinations of exons can be joined together, resulting in a single gene coding
for multiple proteins. Walter Gilbert rst put this idea forward, and he proposed that the di erent permutations of exons could
produce di erent protein isoforms. These in turn would have di erent chemical and biological activities.
 Accept
Cookie Settings
It is now thought that between 30 and 60% of human genes undergo alternative splicing. Moreover, over 60% of disease-causing
mutations in humans are related to splice errors, rather than mistakes in coding sequences.
About
One example of a human gene that undergoes alternative splicing is (/life-sciences/about)
bronectin, a glycoprotein that extends from the cell into the
extracellular
(/) matrix. Over 20 di erent isoforms of bronectin have been discovered. These have all been produced from di erent
combinations of bronectin gene exons.

Sources
scidiv.bellevuecollege.edu/rkr/Biology211/labs/pdfs/BetaGlobin211.pdf
(http://scidiv.bellevuecollege.edu/rkr/Biology211/labs/pdfs/BetaGlobin211.pdf)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK21475/ (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK21475)
dwb4.unl.edu/.../Post-trans.html
(http://dwb4.unl.edu/Chem/CHEM869N/CHEM869NLinks/bssv01.lancs.ac.uk/ADS/BIOL253notes/Post-trans.html)
sta www.fullcoll.edu/.../Solutions_Manual_Chapter_14.pdf
(http://sta www.fullcoll.edu/cyoung/notes/BIOL276%20Presentations/Solutions%20Manual/Solutions_Manual_Chapter_14.pdf)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15217358 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15217358)
www.dartmouth.edu/~cbbc/courses/bio4/bio4-lectures/EukGenes.html (http://www.dartmouth.edu/~cbbc/courses/bio4/bio4-
More...
lectures/EukGenes.html)
www.nature.com/.../translation-dna-to-mrna-to-protein-393 (http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/translation-dna-to-
mrna-to-protein-393)
www.nature.com/.../rna-splicing-introns-exons-and-spliceosome-12375 (http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/rna-
splicing-introns-exons-and-spliceosome-12375)
www.psychiatry.wustl.edu/.../Modrek.pdf
(http://www.psychiatry.wustl.edu/Resources/LiteratureList/2002/January/Modrek.pdf)
www.mimg.ucla.edu/.../%2829%29annurev.biochem.72.121801.161720.pdf
(http://www.mimg.ucla.edu/faculty/black/%2829%29annurev.biochem.72.121801.161720.pdf)  Accept
http://psb.stanford.edu/psb04/cfp-splicing.html (http://psb.stanford.edu/psb04/cfp-splicing.html) Cookie Settings
highered.mcgraw-hill.com/.../bio30.swf::How%20Spliceosomes%20Process%20RNA (http://highered.mcgraw-
MEDICAL HOME (/MEDICAL)
hill.com/olcweb/cgi/pluginpop.cgi? Become a Member (/azopro le/login/)  Search... 
it=swf::535::535::/sites/dl/free/0072437316/120077/bio30.swf::How%20Spliceosomes%20Process%20RNA)
http://www.jbc.org/content/273/21/12685.full (http://www.jbc.org/content/273/21/12685.full)
(/)
Last Updated: Nov 2, 2018
Currently rated 2.0 by 442 people


More...
Written by
Michael Greenwood (https://www.news-medical.net/life-sciences/authors/michael-greenwood)

Michael graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University with a B.Sc. in Chemistry in 2014, where he majored in organic, inorganic,
physical and analytical chemistry. He is currently completing a Ph.D. on the design and production of gold nanoparticles able to act as
multimodal anticancer agents, being both drug delivery platforms and radiation dose enhancers.
Download PDF Copy

 Accept
Cookie Settings
Read in: English

Citations 
(/)
Comments

Please explain why the paper "Lessons learned from next-generation (/opinion/1bf5453f-3977-43a6-88ba-652fbcc351d6.aspx)
B Chin says:
June 29, 2013 at 12:27 AM (/opinion/1bf5453f-3977-43a6-88ba-652fbcc351d6.aspx)
Please explain why the paper "Lessons learned from next-generation sequencing in head and neck cancer" by Loyo et al in Head & Neck 35,
454 (march 2013) states Lab Equipment (/Life-Science-and-Laboratory)
"Tumor protein [gene] p53 is made of 11 exons, of which the rst is Interviews
noncoding...".
(/life-sciences/interviews)
It appears to me that Exons are any part of the DNA which encode for RNA, WHETHER OR NOT that RNA is an mRNA, one that eventually yields a
protein.
Reply 0 0
More...
good information thank you . i want to know the role of natural selection (/opinion/5ca8308a-300b-4f5b-94 -3d26c979afd4.aspx)
Kekendo OD says:
March 30, 2017 at 6:56 PM (/opinion/5ca8308a-300b-4f5b-94 -3d26c979afd4.aspx)
good information thank you . i want to know the role of natural selection on exons and introns
Reply 0 0
The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily re ect the views and opinions of News-Medical.Net.
Post a new comment

 Accept
Login
Cookie Settings
Quirky Comment Title (optional)

(/)
Post
More...
Trending Latest
Top Life Sciences Articles
Stories Interviews
New discovery could lead to better strategies for preventing breast cancer metastasis (/news/20200308/New-discovery-could-
lead-to-better-strategies-for-preventing-breast-cancer-metastasis.aspx)
(/news/20200308/New-  Accept
discovery-could-lead-to- Cookie Settings
better-strategies-for-
preventing-breast-cancer- MEDICAL HOME (/MEDICAL) Become a Member (/azopro le/login/)  Search... 
metastasis.aspx)
New toolkit to repair DNA breaks linked to aging, cancer

About and MND discovered (/news/20200309/New-toolkit-to-repair-DNA-
(/life-sciences/about)
breaks-linked-to-aging-cancer-and-MND-discovered.aspx)
(/)

(/news/20200309/New-
toolkit-to-repair-DNA-
breaks-linked-to-aging-
cancer-and-MND-
discovered.aspx)
Microbiome research uncovers new form of antibiotic tolerance (/news/20200305/Microbiome-research-uncovers-new-form-of-

antibiotic-tolerance.aspx)
(/news/20200305/Microbiome-
research-uncovers-new-
More...
form-of-antibiotic-
tolerance.aspx)
Study shows the importance of normal feeding for maintaining oral and gut microbiota (/news/20200303/Study-shows-the-
importance-of-normal-feeding-for-maintaining-oral-and-gut-microbiota.aspx)
(/news/20200303/Study-
shows-the-importance-of-
normal-feeding-for-
maintaining-oral-and-gut-  Accept
microbiota.aspx) Cookie Settings
Berkeley Lights Launches Cell Line Development 2.0 Work ow to Find Top Clones for Complex Antibody Therapeutics
(/news/20200310/Berkeley-Lights-Launches-Cell-Line-Development-20-Work
MEDICAL HOME (/MEDICAL) ow-to-Find-Top-Clones-for-Complex-Antibody-
Become a Member (/azopro le/login/)  Search... 
Therapeutics.aspx)
(/)
(/news/20200310/Berkeley- News (/life-sciences/news)
Lights-Launches-Cell-Line-
Development-20-
Work ow-to-Find-Top-
Clones-for-Complex-
Antibody- White Papers (/life-sciences/whitepapers)
Therapeutics.aspx)
Latest Life Science News

DeNovix becomes sponsor at Tufts Launchpad BioLabs (/news/20200313/DeNovix-becomes-sponsor-at-Tufts-Launchpad-
BioLabs.aspx) Newsletters (/life-sciences/newsletters)
(/news/20200313/DeNovix- More...
becomes-sponsor-at-
Tufts-Launchpad-
BioLabs.aspx)
New high-performance liquid chromatography system maximizes the delivery of precise results (/news/20200311/New-high-
performance-liquid-chromatography-system-maximizes-the-delivery-of-precise-results.aspx)
(/news/20200311/New-
high-performance-liquid-  Accept
chromatography-system-
Cookie Settings
maximizes-the-delivery-
of-precise-results.aspx) MEDICAL HOME (/MEDICAL) Become a Member (/azopro le/login/)  Search... 
Marinomed extends the range of Marinosolv applications (/news/20200310/Marinomed-extends-the-range-of-Marinosolv-
applications.aspx) About (/life-sciences/about)
(/)
(/news/20200310/Marinomed- Life Sciences A-Z (/life-sciences-a-z)

extends-the-range-of-
Marinosolv-
applications.aspx)
Consistent & reliable automated tube rack

Lab&Equipment
plate sealer(/Life-Science-and-Laboratory)
(/news/20200310/Consistent-reliable-automated-tube-rack-plate-
sealer.aspx)
(/news/20200310/Consistent-
reliable-automated-tube-
rack-plate-sealer.aspx)
Berkeley Lights Launches Cell Line Development 2.0 Work ow to Find Top Clones for Complex Antibody Therapeutics
More...
(/news/20200310/Berkeley-Lights-Launches-Cell-Line-Development-20-Work ow-to-Find-Top-Clones-for-Complex-Antibody-
Therapeutics.aspx)
(/news/20200310/Berkeley-
Lights-Launches-Cell-Line-
Development-20-
We
Workuseow-to-Find-Top-
cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing to browse this site you agree to our use of cookies. More info (/privacy#cookies).
Clones-for-Complex-
Antibody-
Therapeutics.aspx)  Accept
Cookie Settings
Newsletters you may be interested in

Cell Biology (https://www.news-medical.net/newsletters/webview/?ppnid=192)
(https://www.news-
medical.net/newsletters/webview/? About (/life-sciences/about)
(Subscribe or Preview (https://www.news-medical.net/newsletters/webview/?ppnid=192) )
ppnid=192)
(/)
Genetics (https://www.news-medical.net/newsletters/webview/?ppnid=145)
(https://www.news-
(Subscribe or Preview (https://www.news-medical.net/newsletters/webview/?ppnid=145))
medical.net/newsletters/webview/?
ppnid=145)
Protein Analysis (https://www.news-medical.net/newsletters/webview/?ppnid=187)

(https://www.news- Lab Equipment (/Life-Science-and-Laboratory)
(Subscribe or Preview (https://www.news-medical.net/newsletters/webview/?ppnid=187))
medical.net/newsletters/webview/?
ppnid=187) Interviews (/life-sciences/interviews)
See all Newsletters » (/life-sciences/newsletters) Newsletters (/life-sciences/newsletters)
More...
(https://www.healthonnet.org/HONcode/Conduct.html?HONConduct683179)
(//privacy.truste.com/privacy-seal/validation?rid=80814776-9892-4bc0-a905-50180d9d0296)
Medical Links Life Sciences Links Other Useful Links

Medical Home (/medical) MediKnowledge Series Life Sciences Home (/life-sciences) About (/life-sciences/about)
News (/medical/news) (/mediknowledge) News (/life-sciences/news) Meet the Team (/life-sciences/team)
 Accept
Health A-Z (/medical-a-z.aspx) Health & Personal Care (/Consumer- Lab Instruments & Equipment (/Life- Search (/life-sciences/search)
Products) Cookie Settings
Science-and-Laboratory)
White Papers (/medical/whitepapers) Medical Devices (/Clinical-and- Life Sciences A-Z (/life-sciences-a-z) Newsletters (/life-
Thought Leaders (/medical/thought- Diagnostics) White Papers (/life-
sciences/newsletters)
leaders) Drugs (/drugs-a-z.aspx) sciences/whitepapers) Sitemap (/sitemap.axd)
Insights (/medical/insights-from- About (/life-sciences/about)
Thought Leaders (/life- Advertise
industry) sciences/thought-leaders) (https://www.azonetwork.com/marketing
(/)
News (/life-sciences/news) science/news-medical#lifesciences)
Insights (/life-sciences/insights-
from-industry) Contact (/life-sciences/contact)
Life Sciences A-Z (/life-sciences-a-z) Update Your Privacy Preferences
Terms & Conditions (/life-
White Papers (/life-sciences/whitepapers) sciences/terms)
Privacy & Cookie Policy (/life-
Lab Equipment (/Life-Science-and-Laboratory) sciences/privacy)
News-Medical.Net providesNewsletters
this medical information service in accordance with these terms and conditions (/life-
(/life-sciences/newsletters)
sciences/terms). Please note that medical information found on this website is designed to support, not to replace
the relationship between patient and physician/doctor and the medical advice they may provide.
  (https://www.healthonnet.org/HONcode/Conduct.html?HONConduct683179)
More...
(https://www.facebook.com/NewsMedical)
(https://twitter.com/NewsLifeScience)
This site complies with the HONcode standard
for trustworthy health
(http://www.healthonnet.org/HONcode/Conduct.html)
information: verify here.
(https://www.healthonnet.org/HONcode/Conduct.html?
HONConduct683179)
We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing to browse (https://www.azonetwork.com/)

this site you agree to our use of cookies. More info (/privacy#cookies).
News-Medical.net - An AZoNetwork Site

Owned and operated by AZoNetwork, © 2000-2020  Accept
Cookie Settings

What Are Introns and Exons - PDF

Hochgeladen von

Dokumentinformationen

Originaltitel

Copyright

Verfügbare Formate

Dieses Dokument teilen

Dokument teilen oder einbetten

Freigabeoptionen

Stufen Sie dieses Dokument als nützlich ein?

Sind diese Inhalte unangemessen?

Copyright:

Verfügbare Formate

What Are Introns and Exons - PDF

Hochgeladen von

Copyright:

Verfügbare Formate

3/14/2020 What are Introns and Exons?

MEDICAL HOME (/MEDICAL) Become a Member (/azopro le/login/)  Search... 

Life Sciences A-Z (/life-sciences-a-z)

White Papers (/life-sciences/whitepapers)