Slide 7 of 62
Notes:
The general 3-D structure is shown. There are specific features that are used in discussion of ribosome function. There is room between the subunits for tRNAs. The cleft of the small subunit lines up with a tunnel in the large subunit (not shown), which is where the growning polypeptide chain threads as it is synthesized.
It is important to realize that the subunits come apart and go together during the process of protein synthesis.
