What is the composition of the large ribosome subunit in prokaryotes?

The large ribosomal subunit in prokaryotes is composed of 23S rRNA and 5S rRNA, which together form the functional unit involved in protein synthesis. In prokaryotic cells, the ribosome consists of a 70S structure, with the large subunit being the 50S subunit and the small subunit being the 30S subunit. The 50S subunit contains the 23S rRNA, which plays a critical role in the peptidyl transferase activity, and the 5S rRNA, which helps stabilize the ribosomal structure.

This composition is distinct from that of eukaryotes, which feature an 80S ribosome with an 60S large subunit that contains 28S rRNA, 5S rRNA, and 5.8S rRNA. Prokaryotic ribosomes are essential for translating mRNA into proteins, and understanding their structure and composition is crucial for molecular biology, particularly in the context of antibiotic action, as many drugs target these ribosomal components.