Intronizare

Intronizare, also spelled intronization, is a term used in biology to describe the process by which introns, non-coding sequences within a gene, are removed from the primary RNA transcript during the process of gene expression. This process is crucial for the production of functional proteins, as introns do not contribute to the final protein sequence.

The intronization process occurs in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells and is facilitated by a complex of proteins known as the spliceosome. The spliceosome recognizes specific sequences at the boundaries of introns, known as splice sites, and catalyzes the removal of the introns. The remaining exons, which are the coding sequences, are then joined together to form a continuous sequence of mRNA.

Intronization is a highly regulated process, as the incorrect removal of introns can lead to the production of non-functional proteins or even harmful proteins. The spliceosome ensures that only the correct introns are removed by recognizing specific consensus sequences at the splice sites.

Intronization is a fundamental aspect of gene expression in eukaryotic cells and plays a critical role in the production of functional proteins. The process is highly conserved across different eukaryotic species, indicating its importance in the evolution of complex life forms.