Large subunit ribosomal ribonucleic acid (LSU rRNA) is the largest of the two major
RNA components of the
ribosome
Ribosomes ( ) are macromolecular machines, found within all cells, that perform biological protein synthesis (mRNA translation). Ribosomes link amino acids together in the order specified by the codons of messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules to fo ...
.
Associated with a number of
ribosomal proteins, the LSU rRNA forms the large subunit of the ribosome.
The LSU rRNA acts as a
ribozyme
Ribozymes (ribonucleic acid enzymes) are RNA molecules that have the ability to catalyze specific biochemical reactions, including RNA splicing in gene expression, similar to the action of protein enzymes. The 1982 discovery of ribozymes demons ...
, catalyzing
peptide bond formation.
Characteristics
Use in phylogenetics
LSU rRNA sequences are widely used for working out
evolutionary relationships among organisms, since they are of ancient origin and are found in all known forms of life.
See also
*
SSU rRNA: the small subunit ribosomal ribonucleic acid.
References
{{ribosome subunits
Ribosomal RNA
Protein biosynthesis