UTR

Abbreviation with 2 meanings

UTR
Stands forUntranslated region
Meanings2
CategoriesScience & Engineering, Business & Finance

UTR has two meanings. It stands for Untranslated region (genetics) or Unique Taxpayer Reference (tax).

Meanings of UTR at a glance

#UTR stands forContext
1Untranslated regionScience & Engineering › Genetics
2Unique Taxpayer ReferenceBusiness & Finance › Tax

1. Untranslated region

Science & Engineering · Genetics Abbreviations

Section of a messenger RNA that is not translated into protein: the 5' UTR lies before the start codon and the 3' UTR after the stop codon. UTRs control how efficiently, where and how long an mRNA is translated, partly through binding sites for microRNAs and proteins.

Example: Engineered UTRs in the vaccine mRNA increase protein production and stability.

UTR is pronounced as letters, and the 5' and 3' ends are read "five prime" and "three prime." Variants in UTRs can cause disease without changing a protein's sequence, as in fragile X syndrome, where a repeat expansion in the 5' UTR silences the FMR1 gene.

2. Unique Taxpayer Reference

Business & Finance · Tax Abbreviations

Ten-digit number HM Revenue & Customs issues to individuals registered for Self Assessment and to companies for Corporation Tax. It appears on returns, HMRC letters and the online tax account.

Example: My accountant needs your UTR to file your Self Assessment return.

Newly self-employed people must register for Self Assessment by October 5 after the end of their first tax year, after which the UTR arrives by post. It is separate from the National Insurance number, which identifies a person for contributions.

More genetics abbreviations

  • ssDNA – Single-stranded DNA
  • STR – Short tandem repeat
  • T2T – Telomere-to-telomere
  • TF – Transcription factor
  • VNTR – Variable number tandem repeat
  • VUS – Variant of uncertain significance
  • WES – Whole-exome sequencing
  • WGS – Whole-genome sequencing

See all 57 genetics abbreviations →

More tax abbreviations

  • SUTA – State Unemployment Tax Act
  • TDS – Tax deducted at source
  • TFN – Tax file number
  • TIN – Taxpayer identification number
  • VAT – Value-added tax
  • W-2 – Wage and Tax Statement (IRS Form W-2)
  • W-2G – Certain Gambling Winnings (IRS Form W-2G)
  • W-4 – Employee's Withholding Certificate (IRS Form W-4)

See all 116 tax abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.