Interrupted gene
Encyclopedia
An interrupted gene is simply a strand of DNA
that contains both intron
s and exon
s. Most higher-level eukaryote
s have interrupted genes and have longer introns than exons, creating a gene that is longer than its coding region
. Interrupted genes are also found in some bacteria. Some eukaryotes, including yeast
, have many uninterrupted regions, as they contain long stretches of exons that create necessary mRNA, leading to the development of protein
s. This does not mean, however, they are fully uninterrupted, as tRNA synthesis requires excision of a nucleotide sequence, followed by ligation
.
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
that contains both intron
Intron
An intron is any nucleotide sequence within a gene that is removed by RNA splicing to generate the final mature RNA product of a gene. The term intron refers to both the DNA sequence within a gene, and the corresponding sequence in RNA transcripts. Sequences that are joined together in the final...
s and exon
Exon
An exon is a nucleic acid sequence that is represented in the mature form of an RNA molecule either after portions of a precursor RNA have been removed by cis-splicing or when two or more precursor RNA molecules have been ligated by trans-splicing. The mature RNA molecule can be a messenger RNA...
s. Most higher-level eukaryote
Eukaryote
A eukaryote is an organism whose cells contain complex structures enclosed within membranes. Eukaryotes may more formally be referred to as the taxon Eukarya or Eukaryota. The defining membrane-bound structure that sets eukaryotic cells apart from prokaryotic cells is the nucleus, or nuclear...
s have interrupted genes and have longer introns than exons, creating a gene that is longer than its coding region
Coding region
The coding region of a gene, also known as the coding sequence or CDS, is that portion of a gene's DNA or RNA, composed of exons, that codes for protein. The region is bounded nearer the 5' end by a start codon and nearer the 3' end with a stop codon...
. Interrupted genes are also found in some bacteria. Some eukaryotes, including yeast
Yeast
Yeasts are eukaryotic micro-organisms classified in the kingdom Fungi, with 1,500 species currently described estimated to be only 1% of all fungal species. Most reproduce asexually by mitosis, and many do so by an asymmetric division process called budding...
, have many uninterrupted regions, as they contain long stretches of exons that create necessary mRNA, leading to the development of protein
Protein
Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
s. This does not mean, however, they are fully uninterrupted, as tRNA synthesis requires excision of a nucleotide sequence, followed by ligation
Ligation
Ligation may refer to:* In molecular biology, the covalent linking of two ends of DNA molecules using DNA ligase* In medicine, the making of a ligature * Chemical ligation, the production of peptides from amino acids...
.