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MRNA cap

Written by the Fiveable Content Team โ€ข Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2027 exam
Verified for the 2027 examโ€ขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โ€ข Last updated August 2025

Definition

A modified guanosine nucleotide structure added to the 5' end of mRNA that protects the mRNA from degradation and facilitates translation.

AP course connection

Topic 6.3: 6.3 Transcription and RNA Processing

Unit 6

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MRNA cap Definition for AP Biology | Fiveable