capped

Capped is the past participle of cap and is used as an adjective or verb to indicate that something is covered by a cap or lid, or that it has reached a maximum limit. In everyday language, objects such as bottles or pens can be described as capped when they are topped with a cap.

In biology and biochemistry, capped refers to the 5' cap structure that is added to eukaryotic messenger RNA during processing. A capped mRNA contains a 7-mmethylguanosine cap at its 5' end, which protects the transcript and aids in ribosome binding for translation. The enzymatic process of adding this structure is called capping, and researchers often refer to capped transcripts to distinguish mature RNA from uncapped precursors.

In geology and earth science, capped can describe a rock or sediment layer that sits atop a formation, often called cap rock. A capped reservoir has a top layer that seals underlying fluids, influencing pressure and trap integrity in oil and gas contexts.

In meteorology, a cap or cap effect refers to a temperature inversion or atmospheric layer that suppresses convection. When the cap is strong, thunderstorm development is delayed; when it weakens, rapid convective activity can occur.

In economics and finance, capped denotes a limit on a variable. Examples include capped interest rates, capped insurance premiums, or capped options where the payoff cannot exceed a specified amount. Budget caps similarly impose legislated ceilings on spending.

Overall, capped conveys the notion of covering, limiting, or ending a process, depending on the domain.