In this video, we're going to begin our lesson on eukaryotic RNA processing and splicing. Recall that we mentioned in some of our previous lesson videos that unlike prokaryotic mRNA, it turns out that eukaryotic mRNA is going to require further modification upon transcription termination. Eukaryotic organisms, upon transcription termination, produce mRNA that is not fully mature. It's premature mRNA, otherwise termed pre-mRNA. This pre-mRNA, that's originally formed in eukaryotic organisms, is the eukaryotic mRNA before modification via RNA processing and splicing. RNA processing and splicing are eukaryotic processes that convert this premature mRNA or pre-mRNA into a fully mature mRNA that's ready for translation. This is a process that applies only to eukaryotic organisms, not to prokaryotic organisms.
If we take a look at our image down below, notice over here on the left-hand side, this is representing the premature mRNA or the pre-mRNA that's originally formed during eukaryotic transcription. But this pre-mRNA is premature; it's not ready for translation. In order to prepare this pre-mRNA for translation, it has to undergo RNA processing and splicing. RNA processing and splicing are going to be eukaryotic processes that help convert the pre-mRNA into a modified version of the mRNA that is ready and fully mature for translation.
As we move forward in our course, we're going to talk about exactly what's entailed in RNA processing and in RNA splicing to help convert the pre-mRNA to this modified mRNA. We'll get to talk more about that as we move forward. So I'll see you all in our next video.
