Title: leader sequence
Long Title: IUPAC Gold Book - leader sequence
DOI: 10.1351/goldbook.L03491
Status: current

Definition
A polynucleotide region between promoter and structural gene, necessary for the correct transcription of DNA into mRNA.An N-terminal extension of polypeptides (also known as the signal sequence) which is necessary for the transport of the protein into or through the membrane or for its secretion into the extracellular medium.

Related Terms
- DNA: https://goldbook.iupac.org//terms/view/D01597
- gene: https://goldbook.iupac.org//terms/view/G02604
- mRNA: https://goldbook.iupac.org//terms/view/M03857
- membrane: https://goldbook.iupac.org//terms/view/MT06878
- polypeptides: https://goldbook.iupac.org//terms/view/P04749
- promoter: https://goldbook.iupac.org//terms/view/P04875
- protein: https://goldbook.iupac.org//terms/view/P04898
- transcription: https://goldbook.iupac.org//terms/view/T06436

Source
- PAC, 1992, 64, 143. 'Glossary for chemists of terms used in biotechnology (IUPAC Recommendations 1992)' on page 158 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199264010143)

Other Outputs
- html: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/L03491/html
- json: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/L03491/json
- xml: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/L03491/xml

Citation: Citation: 'leader sequence' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. 10.1351/goldbook.L03491
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Disclaimer: The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is continuously reviewing and, where needed, updating terms in the Compendium of Chemical Terminology (the IUPAC Gold Book). Users of these terms are encouraged to include the version of a term with its use and to check regularly for updates to term definitions that you are using.
Accessed: 2026-08-02T23:27:09+00:00