The Evolution of the Archaebacterial Ribosome

Abstract

The general properties of the archaebacterial ribosomes and the data available on the structure of both the ribosomal proteins and ribosomal RNA from the 5S RNA-protein domain and the ribosome “A” protein domain clearly support the concept that the archae-bacteria are a phylogenetic group quite distinct from either eucaryotes or eubacteria. The studies also indicate that some, at least, of the ribosomal components in the nuclear-cytoplasm of eucaryotes arose from an archaebacterial source.