ABSTRACT
The biosynthesis of proteins is a process in which many complex molecules take part. It occurs on ribosomes, subcellular organelles present in all organisms, and are essential for the translation of the genetic information encoded in messenger ribonucleic acids (mRNA) into proteins. The size of the ribosomal RNAs has been used as a first parameter to characterize the ribosomal particle and to compare ribosomes from different species. This is due principally to the simplicity and sensitivity of the techniques involved since Ribosomal ribonucleic acids (rRNAs) can be isolated easily and fractionated by gel electrophoresis in denaturing or nondenaturing conditions. The ratio of RNA to protein content of ribosomal particles is related to their buoyant density in CsCl. Gel electrophoresis of Artemia ribosomal RNAs in denaturing conditions yielded estimates of their relative molecular mass by using ribosomal RNAs of Escherichia coli as standards.
