Five-prime cap

The five-prime cap is like a special hat that scientists put on a messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule, which is like a recipe book for making proteins. The cap is put on the mRNA recipe book at the very beginning of the recipe, which is called the five-prime end.

The cap helps protect the mRNA recipe book from being broken down or chewed up before it gets to where it needs to go. It also helps the recipe book attach to the ribosome, which is like a little machine that reads the recipe and makes the protein.

So, the five-prime cap is like a special hat that helps protect and guide the mRNA recipe book as it gets ready to make a protein.