Ribosomal RNA

Ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) is the RNA component of the ribosome, and is essential for protein synthesis in all living organisms. It constitutes the predominant material within the ribosome, which is approximately 60% rRNA and 40% protein by weight. Ribosomes contain two major rRNAs and 50 or more proteins. The ribosomal RNAs form two subunits, the large subunit (LSU) and small subunit (SSU). The LSU rRNA acts as a ribozyme, catalyzing peptide bond formation. rRNA sequences are widely used for working out evolutionary relationships among organisms, since they are of ancient origin and are found in all known forms of life.

The ribosomal RNAs complex with proteins to form two subunits, the large subunit (LSU) and small subunit (SSU). During translation, mRNA is sandwiched between the small and large subunits, and the ribosome catalyzes the formation of a peptide bond between the two amino acids that are contained in the rRNA.

A ribosome also has three binding sites called A, P, and E.

A single mRNA can be translated simultaneously by multiple ribosomes.

Both prokaryotic and eukaryotic ribosomes can be broken down into two subunits (the S in 16S represents Svedberg units), nt= length in nucleotides of the respective rRNAs, for exemplary species Escherichia coli (prokaryote) and human (eukaryote):

Note that the S units of the subunits (or the rRNAs) cannot simply be added because they represent measures of sedimentation rate rather than of mass. The sedimentation rate of each subunit is affected by its shape, as well as by its mass. The nt units can be added as these represent the integer number of units in the linear rRNA polymers (for example, the total length of the human rRNA = 7216 nt).

In prokaryotes a small 30S ribosomal subunit contains the 16S ribosomal RNA.

The large 50S ribosomal subunit contains two rRNA species (the 5S and 23S ribosomal RNAs).

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