RIBOSOMES – THE SITE OF

PROTEIN SYNTHESIS
 INTRODUCTION
• Particle that is present in large numbers in all living cells and serves as the site
of protein synthesis.
• Macromolecule machine that directs the synthesis of protein.
• can occur both as free particles in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and as
particles attached to the membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum in
eukaryotic cells.
• were first described in 1955 by Romanian-born American cell biologist
George E. Palade, who found them to be frequently associated with the
endoplasmic reticulum in eukaryotic cells.
• Remarkably abundant in cells
• A single actively replicating eukaryotic cell, for example, may contain as
many as 10 million ribosomes. In the bacterium Escherichia coli (a
prokaryote), ribosomes may number as many as 15,000, constituting as much
as one-quarter of the cell’s total mass
• The size of the ribosomes within cells varies, depending on the cell type and
on factors such as whether the cell is resting or replicating.
• The average ribosome of E. coli, measures about 200 angstroms (about 20
nm) in diameter.
• Location – free in the cytoplasm or bound to endoplasmic reticulum (RER)
 STRUCTURE
• Ribosomes are made up of ribosomal proteins and ribosomal RNA (rRNA).
• In prokaryotes - 40 percent protein and 60 percent rRNA.
• In eukaryotes - half protein and half rRNA.
• Each ribosome is composed of two subunits,
a larger one and a smaller one, each of which
has a characteristic shape.
• The large subunit contains peptidyl transferase centre – responsible for the
formation of peptide bonds.
• Small subunit- contains decoding centre- charged tRNAs read or decode
the codon units of mRNA.
• The large and small subunits are named according to the velocity of their
sedimentation when subjected to a centrifugal force.
• Unit – Svedberg (S), named after Theodor Svedberg (inventor of
ultracentrifuge)
 PROKARYOTIC RIBOSOME – THE
70S RIBOSOME
• Large subunit – sedimentation velocity is 50S : hence known as 50S
• Smaller subunit – 30S
• Together known as 70S ribosome
• Note – 70S is less than sum of 50S and 30S (80S), this is because sedimentation
velocity is determined by size and shape and hence not an exact
measurement of mass
• The subunits are made up of one or more RNAs (rRNA) and many ribosomal
protein.
• 50S – 5S rRNA + 23S rRNA + 34 proteins
• 30S – 16S rRNA + 21 proteins
 EUKARYOTIC RIBOSOME – 80S
RIBOSOME
• Large subunit – 60S
• Small subunit – 40S
• Together known as 80S ribosome
• 60S – 5.8S rRNA + 5S rRNA + 28S rRNA + 49 proteins
• 40S – 18S rRNA + 33 protein
 BINDING SITES OF RIBOSOMES
• To perform the peptidyl transferase reaction, the ribosome must be able to
bind at least two tRNAs simultaneously.
• Has 3 tRNA binding sites
A-Site – aminoacylated tRNA
P-Site – peptidyl tRNA
E-site – binding site for the tRNA that is released after the growing
polypeptide chain has been transferred to aminoacyl-tRNA
• These sites are formed at the interface between large and small subunits
• In this way, the bound tRNA can span the distance between the peptidyl
transferase centre in large subunit and the decoding centre in smaller one.
• The mRNA enters and exists the decoding centre through a narrow channels
in the small subunit.
• Entry channel is only wide enough for unpaired RNA – ensures that only single
stranded mRNA enters the decoding centre.
• Second channel through large subunit provides an exit path for the newly
synthesised polypeptide chain
• Size of exist channel limits the conformation of the growing polypeptide
chain.
 RIBOSOME CYCLE
• Each time a protein is synthesised, the translation components undergo
specific series of events:
1. Large and small subunit of ribosome associate with each other and the
mRNA
2. Translate the target mRNA
3. Dissociate after completing synthesis of the protein
 POLYRIBOSOME
• A ribosome can synthesize only one polypeptide at one time
• But mRNA can be translated simultaneously by multiple ribosome
• A mRNA bearing multiple ribosomes is known as polyribosome or polysome
• The ability of multiple ribosomes to function on a single mRNA explains the
relatively limited abundance of mRNA and excess of ribosomes in the cell.