What is the Difference Between rRNA and mRNA?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and messenger RNA (mRNA) lies in their structure and function within the cell:
mRNA:
- Messenger RNA is a linear molecule that carries genetic information copied from DNA.
- Its primary role is to provide a template for gene coding during protein synthesis.
- mRNA is transcribed from DNA and plays a crucial role in the process of transcription and translation.
rRNA:
- Ribosomal RNA forms the core of a cell's ribosomes, which are the structures in which protein synthesis takes place.
- rRNA molecules direct the catalytic steps of protein synthesis, helping to stitch together amino acids.
- rRNA is sometimes referred to as a ribozyme or catalytic RNA to reflect its function.
In summary, mRNA carries the coding sequences for protein synthesis, while rRNA is a structural and functional component of ribosomes, which are responsible for carrying out protein synthesis.
Comparative Table: rRNA vs mRNA
Here is a table comparing the differences between ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and messenger RNA (mRNA):
Feature | rRNA | mRNA |
---|---|---|
Structure | Spherical and complex | Linear |
Function | Forms ribosomes along with proteins | Provides a template for gene coding during protein synthesis |
Location | Found in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells | Primarily produced in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells |
Length | Varies depending on the species | Usually 300 to 12,000 nucleotides long in mammals |
Transcription Process | Not directly involved in transcription | Formed by transcription from DNA, catalyzed by RNA polymerase |
Modification | No modification required for stability | Modified at 5' and 3' ends for stability and to prevent hydrolysis by exonucleases (capped by 7-methylguanosine and polyadenylation at 3' end) |
rRNA and mRNA play crucial roles in protein synthesis, but they have distinct structures and functions. rRNA forms ribosomes along with proteins, while mRNA provides a template for gene coding during protein synthesis.
Read more:
- RNA vs mRNA
- mRNA vs tRNA
- rRNA vs Ribosomes
- DNA vs mRNA
- hnRNA vs mRNA
- DNA vs RNA
- pre-mRNA vs mRNA
- rDNA vs cDNA
- DNA vs RNA Structure
- DNA vs RNA Synthesis
- 16s rRNA vs 16s rDNA
- Prokaryotic vs Eukaryotic mRNA
- snRNA vs snRNP
- Transcription vs Translation
- ssRNA vs dsRNA
- Deoxyribonucleic acid vs Ribonucleic Acid
- DNA vs RNA Nucleotide
- CRISPR vs RNAi
- DNA vs RNA Viruses