What is the combined size of ribosomes found in eukaryotic cells?

In eukaryotic cells, ribosomes are composed of two subunits: the large subunit and the small subunit, which together form the functional ribosome. The combined size of these ribosomal subunits is measured in Svedberg units (S), which reflect the overall size and density of the ribosomal particles.

For eukaryotic ribosomes, the small subunit is 40S and the large subunit is 60S. When these two subunits combine, they form an 80S ribosome in total. This 80S measurement is distinct from prokaryotic ribosomes, which are 70S.

Eukaryotic ribosomes play crucial roles in protein synthesis, translating messenger RNA (mRNA) into polypeptide chains, and their size is one of the defining characteristics that distinguishes them from prokaryotic ribosomes. Understanding the composition and size of ribosomes is essential when studying the differences between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, as well as the mechanisms of protein synthesis in various organisms.