Britannica Sources used in this answer

How do prokaryotic ribosomes differ from eukaryotic ribosomes?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Prokaryotic and eukaryotic ribosomes differ primarily in their composition, size, and assembly:

  • Composition: Prokaryotic ribosomes consist of approximately 40 percent protein and 60 percent ribosomal RNA (rRNA). In contrast, eukaryotic ribosomes are composed of roughly equal parts protein and rRNA.1
  • Subunit Size: Ribosomal subunits are categorized by their sedimentation rate in Svedberg units (S). Prokaryotes contain a small 30S subunit and a large 50S subunit. Eukaryotes possess larger subunits, designated as 40S (small) and 60S (large).12
  • Assembly: In eukaryotic cells, ribosomal subunits are synthesized within the nucleolus of the nucleus. Prokaryotes, which lack a defined nucleus, do not utilize a nucleolus for this process.12

While both types of ribosomes serve as the essential sites for protein synthesis, these structural distinctions reflect significant evolutionary differences between the two cell types.12