Question:hard

The eukaryotic signal recognition particle consists of ____.

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Recall the eukaryotic SRP composition used in co-translational protein targeting to the ER.
Updated On: Jul 4, 2026
  • 4 polypeptides and rRNA
  • 4 polypeptides and 4.5 SL RNA
  • 6 polypeptides and 7 SL RNA
  • 6 polypeptides and rRNA
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: SRP works during protein synthesis to pause translation briefly once a signal sequence appears, then dock the ribosome-mRNA-nascent chain complex onto the ER membrane through the SRP receptor.
This particle is not a pure protein or pure RNA molecule, it is a complex of 6 different protein subunits wrapped around a single RNA scaffold known as 7SL RNA in eukaryotic cells.
The bacterial counterpart is much simpler with far fewer proteins and a smaller RNA called 4.5S RNA, so that composition does not apply to the eukaryotic system asked here. Answer: 6 polypeptides and 7 SL RNA.
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