ribosomin

Ribosomes are complex molecular machines found in all living cells, responsible for protein synthesis. They are composed of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and ribosomal proteins, which assemble into two subunits: the large subunit and the small subunit. In prokaryotes, ribosomes are 70S, consisting of a 50S large subunit and a 30S small subunit. In eukaryotes, ribosomes are 80S, with a 60S large subunit and a 40S small subunit.

Ribosomes function by reading messenger RNA (mRNA) sequences and assembling amino acids into proteins. The process begins with the small subunit binding to the mRNA, forming an initiation complex. The large subunit then joins, and translation begins. The ribosome moves along the mRNA, decoding the sequence of nucleotides and adding corresponding amino acids to the growing polypeptide chain. This process continues until a stop codon is reached, at which point the ribosome dissociates, and the completed protein is released.

Ribosomes play a crucial role in cellular metabolism and are essential for the survival and function of all living organisms. They are also a target for antibiotics, which inhibit bacterial ribosome function, thereby disrupting protein synthesis and killing the bacterium.