Sequence Ontology

A functional_gene_region is a sequence feature that resides within a gene. But it is typically the corresponding region of translated/transcribed sequence in a gene product, that performs the molecular function qualifying it as a functional_gene_region. Here, a functional_gene_region must contribute directly to the molecular function of the gene product - regions that code for purely structural elements in a gene product that connect such directly functional elements together are not considered functional_gene_regions. Examples of regions considered 'functional' include those encoding enzymatic activity, binding activity, regions required for localization or membrane association, channel-forming regions, and signal peptides or other elements critical for processing of a gene product. In addition, regions that function at the genomic/DNA level are also included - e.g. regions of sequence known to be critical for binding transcription or splicing factors.