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Updated: Sep 27, 2026

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Published on: December 16, 2025
Assembly of the 30S ribosomal subunit
1Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University Ames, IA 50011, USA. gculver@iastate.edu
Abstract:
Ribosomes are large macromolecular complexes responsible for cellular protein synthesis. The smallest known cytoplasmic ribosome is found in prokaryotic cells; these ribosomes are about 2.5 MDa and contain more than 4000 nucleotides of RNA and greater than 50 proteins. These components are distributed into two asymmetric subunits. Recent advances in structural studies of ribosomes and ribosomal subunits have revealed intimate details of the interactions within fully assembled particles. In contrast, many details of how these massive ribonucleoprotein complexes assemble remain elusive. The goal of this review is to discuss some crucial aspects of 30S ribosomal subunit assembly.
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