Ribosome structure/function vs rRNA structure/function

[sunflower18]

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Hey guys,

I'm a bit confused on how to differentiate between the structure and function of ribosomes vs rRNA. I know that ribosomes are made up of rRNA as well as proteins, so their structure/function overlap, but I wasn't sure if rRNA has another purpose other than helping to comprise ribosomes.

The reason I am wondering this is because I am looking at the AAMC BS outline, and it includes two different bullet points, one about rRNA structure and function and one about the role and function of ribosomes. I wasn't sure how the knowledge for these two bullet points would be different.

Does that make any sense? I feel like it's fairly intuitive that they are really the same thing, but I just wanted to make sense that there isn't any kind of essential difference that I am missing, or any function that rRNA has that ribosomes don't have.

Thanks!! 🙂

 

[gettheleadout]

I would think of it more as an inclusive vs exclusive type of thing. Ribosomes carry out translation, where as rRNA is a part of ribosomal structure but you couldn't say "rRNA carries out translation" because there's more involved.

For those points in the outline I would know the general features of the tRNA structure (L-shaped tertiary, anticodon loop, long end of the chain extending at the 3' end to bind the amino acid in charged tRNA) and that rRNA is incorporated with proteins in the ribosomal structure. Also know that tRNA may contain modified bases, and that RNA in general incorporated uracil instead of thymine. Secondary and tertiary structure of rRNA is too varied and specific to worry about.

And then the important features of ribosomes: when they combine subunits, APE sites, peptidyl transferase, etc...

 

[sunflower18]

I would think of it more as an inclusive vs exclusive type of thing. Ribosomes carry out translation, where as rRNA is a part of ribosomal structure but you couldn't say "rRNA carries out translation" because there's more involved.

For those points in the outline I would know the general features of the tRNA structure (L-shaped tertiary, anticodon loop, long end of the chain extending at the 3' end to bind the amino acid in charged tRNA) and that rRNA is incorporated with proteins in the ribosomal structure. Also know that tRNA may contain modified bases, and that RNA in general incorporated uracil instead of thymine. Secondary and tertiary structure of rRNA is too varied and specific to worry about.

And then the important features of ribosomes: when they combine subunits, APE sites, peptidyl transferase, etc...

Okay, that's what I was thinking. That makes sense and I'm glad that I wasn't completely misunderstanding the concepts! Thanks GTLO 🙂