Figure 1.

Steps of nuclear mRNP formation. The mRNA is synthesized from the protein coding gene by RNAPII as a nascent transcript. The nascent transcript is processed while transcription elongation still takes place. It is capped, spliced, cleaved, and polyadenylated. In addition, mRNA‐binding proteins bind to the mRNA and package it into an mRNP. These mRNA‐binding proteins influence mRNA stability and are necessary for nuclear export. After a likely remodeling of the mRNP, it is exported to the cytoplasm through the nuclear pore complex (NPC). In the cytoplasm the mRNA is translated by the ribosomes, which synthesize the encoded protein. Eventually, the mRNA is degraded.