Post-transcriptional modification

Post transcriptional modification is a genetic process in cell biology by which, in eukaryotic cells precursor messenger RNA is converted into mature messenger RNA (mRNA) during the larger process of protein synthesis so ultimately there will be resulting functional proteins. This process is vital for the efficient and correct translation of the genome by ribosomes, the next step of protein synthesis, and for the export of the mRNA from the nucleus for translation. It should not be confused with posttranslational modification, which occurs after translation in order to modify the resultant protein further.

There are three main forms of post transcriptional modification:
 * Splicing by the spliceosome;
 * 5' capping and;
 * polyadenylation.