Ribosomes are very important cellular organelles that are tasked with synthesizing proteins. Proteins play many roles in our body – from repairing cellular damage to providing structural support. Life, as we know it, is classified into prokaryotes and eukaryotes, each with its own special ribosome structure. Eukaryotic ribosomes are called 80S ribosomes while prokaryotes such as bacteria have a smaller version called 70S ribosomes. Read on to explore more differences between the two.
| In prokaryotes such as bacteria. Also occurs in eukaryotic cells | Exclusively occurs in eukaryotes |
| Found freely inside the cytoplasm of prokaryotes. ALSO occurs in eukaryotic cell organelles such as mitochondria and chloroplast | Found inside the cytoplasm or attached to the Endoplasmic reticulum |
| Synthesized inside the cytoplasm of prokaryotes | Synthesized inside the nucleolus |
| Small 30S and large 50S | Small 40S and large 60S |
| 3 molecules of RNA | 4 molecules of RNA |
| 2.7-3.0 million Daltons | 4.0-4.5 million Daltons |
| 70 | 80 |
| 55 protein molecules, with 34 in larger subunit and 21 in smaller subunit | 73 protein molecules, with 40 in larger subunits and 33 in smaller subunits |
| Around 8,000 | Around 16,000 |
| 2:1 (more RNA) | 1:1 |
| Protein synthesis is inhibited by antibiotics | Protein synthesis is NOT inhibited by antibiotics |
Further Reading:
- More Difference Between
- What Are Ribosomes? – Definition, Structure and its Functions
- Cell Organelles – Structure and Functions of Cell Organelles
Explore more fascinating topics by registering at BYJU’S Biology
What is the meaning of 70s or 80s
70S and 80S refer to their sedimentation coefficients in Svedberg units.