Class 12 · Molecular Basis of Inheritance

Ribosome Structure and Protein Synthesis — NEET Biology

✅ Asked in NEET 2023
✅ NEET 2023 PYQ · Asked 3 times

How many different proteins does the ribosome consist of? (NEET 2023)

Q1 of 3NEET 2023

How many different proteins does the ribosome consist of? (NEET 2023)

Q2 of 3NEET 2022

The process of translation of mRNA to proteins begins as soon as: (NEET 2022)

Q3 of 3NEET 2016

Which bacterial rRNA acts as structural RNA and ribozyme? (NEET 2016 Phase 2)

Answer & NCERT explanation

Correct answer: B 80

Ribosomes consist of 80 different proteins. In eukaryotes, the 80S ribosome contains about 80 ribosomal proteins distributed between the large (60S) and small (40S) subunits. The 60S subunit has approximately 49 proteins and the 40S subunit has about 33 proteins. These proteins work together with rRNA to form the functional ribosome structure required for protein synthesis. This is specific structural information about ribosome composition.

Read more NCERT concept on the PYQ

📖 NCERT Source

The presence of a catalyst would enhance the rate of peptide bond formation. The cellular factory responsible for synthesising proteins is the ribosome. The ribosome consists of structural RNAs and about 80 different proteins. In its inactive state, it exists as two subunits; a large subunit and a small subunit. When the small subunit encounters an mRNA, the process of translation of the mRNA to protein begins. There are two sites in the large subunit, for subsequent amino acids to bind to and thus, be close enough to each other for the formation of a peptide bond. The ribosome also acts as a catalyst (23S rRNA in bacteria is the enzyme- ribozyme) for the formation of peptide bond.

📐See NCERT Figure 5.13 for the diagram.
NCERT Biology · Class 12 · Chapter 5 · Paragraph 118
How NTA Uses This Concept

NTA tests students on the ribosome's composition: it contains structural RNAs and approximately 80 different proteins. The key trap is confusing the number of ribosomal proteins across different organisms or forgetting that the ribosome has two functional subunits (large and small). Students must remember that the 23S rRNA in bacteria acts as a ribozyme (catalyst) for peptide bond formation, not just a structural component. To answer correctly, focus on: ribosome = RNA + proteins, it functions in translation, and rRNA itself catalyzes peptide bonds. This appears repeatedly (2016, 2022, 2023) because protein synthesis is fundamental to molecular biology.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does NCERT say about presence catalyst would enhance?
The presence of a catalyst would enhance the rate of peptide bond formation. The cellular factory responsible for synthesising proteins is the ribosome.
Has this concept appeared in NEET?
Yes — appeared in NEET 2023, 2022, 2016. States ribosome consists of structural RNAs and about 80 different proteins
Which chapter is this from?
Molecular Basis of Inheritance, Class 12 NCERT Biology.

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