Ribosomes are the sites in a cell in which protein synthesis takes place. Cells have many ribosomes, and the exact number depends on how active a particular cell is in synthesizing proteins.

HHMI scientists and their colleagues discover a new mechanism of protein synthesis. Ribosomes are the cell’s molecular machines, responsible for translating genetic information in messenger RNA into ...

During translation, multiple ribosomes travel along the nucleic acid chain to build polypeptides that become functional proteins. Occasionally, these molecular decoders pause on the mRNA, either ...

Ribosomes are composed of two subunits, the small and large subunits, each containing specific rRNA molecules. The main types of rRNA include: Small Subunit rRNA: In prokaryotes, the small subunit ...

Within the ribosome, the mRNA and aminoacyl-tRNA complexes are held together closely, which facilitates base-pairing. The rRNA catalyzes the attachment of each new amino acid to the growing chain.