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Guilherme Mazui

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What is the Difference Between Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Ribosomes?

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The main differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic ribosomes are their size, composition, and location within the cell. Here are the key distinctions:

  1. Size: Prokaryotic ribosomes are 70S (where S = Svedberg units), while eukaryotic ribosomes are 80S.
  2. Composition: Prokaryotic ribosomes are made up of 30S and 50S subunits, with the 30S subunit containing 16S rRNA and the 50S subunit containing 23S and 5S rRNA. In contrast, eukaryotic ribosomes have 40S and 60S subunits.
  3. Location: Prokaryotic ribosomes are present freely in the cytoplasm. In eukaryotic cells, ribosomes can be found in both free and bound forms, with the bound ribosomes attached to the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER).
  4. RNA Strands: In prokaryotes, the ribosomal RNA is organized into three strands, while in eukaryotes, it has four strands.

These differences in size, composition, and location contribute to the distinct protein synthesis processes in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

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  • What is the Difference Between Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Ribosomes?
  • Comparative Table: Prokaryotic vs Eukaryotic Ribosomes

    • Comparative Table: Prokaryotic vs Eukaryotic Ribosomes

    Here is a table summarizing the differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic ribosomes:

    Feature Prokaryotic Ribosomes Eukaryotic Ribosomes
    Location Float freely in the cytoplasm Occur as free ribosomes in the cytoplasm
    Subunit Structure Consist of 50s and 30s subunits, making up a 70s ribosome Consist of 60s and 40s subunits, making up an 80s ribosome
    RNA Content Contain more RNA (60%) than eukaryotic ribosomes Contain less RNA (50%) than prokaryotic ribosomes
    Protein Synthesis Inhibition Inhibited by cycloheximide Inhibited by Chloramphenicol

    Please note that the table above is based on the information provided in the search results.

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    Guilherme Mazui

    Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.