Ribosome Collection
Teaching Points
The synthesis of proteins relies on the activity of ribosomes, which are complexes of
ribosomal RNA molecules and proteins organized into a large subunit and a small
subunit. Together, these subunits form a functional ribosome, which catalyzes the
formation of peptide bonds between amino acids to produce a linear polypeptide chain,
using the messenger RNA produced through transcription to determine the order of
amino acids. With this collection, students can examine the interaction of the protein
component and the ribosomal RNA component of the subunits. Students can also
explore the differences between the large subunit (50s) and small subunit (30s) of the
ribosome. The small ribosome subunit model displays the interaction of the three
transfer RNAs (tRNAs) that are essential for the transportation of the amino acids into
the ribosome complex in order for the peptide bond to form. Additionally, students can
use the individual models of the tRNAs to further investigate the structure of these
molecules.
Models in this Collection
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Large (50s) ribosome subunit
Small (30s) ribosome sununit
Three transfer RNA molecules
Model Details
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Large (50s) ribosome subunit
o Spacefill model
o White represents ribosomal proteins
o Colors represent recognized RNA domains, based on standard coloring
schemes
Based on pdb file 1FFK
Model made of plaster with the ZCorp printer
Small (30s) ribosome subunit
o Spacefill model
o White represents ribosomal proteins
o Colors represent recognized RNA domains, based on standard coloring
schemes
o Three tRNAs attached to small ribosomal unit are colored green
o Pipe cleaner approximates path of mRNA
o Based on pdb file 1GIY
o Model made of plaster with the ZCorp printer
Three transfer RNA molecules
o Spacefill model
o tRNA is colored in red and white to visualize the intrastrand base pairing
o 3’ CCA which binds to amino acid is colored yellow
o Pipe cleaner approximates the path of the newly synthesized protein
o Anticodon is colored blue
o Based on pdb file 1ehz
o Model made of plaster with the ZCorp printer
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Documentation included
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Teaching points and inventory
How the models fit back in the suitcase?
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