30S subunit

The 30S subunit is a component of the ribosome, a cellular structure responsible for making proteins. In bacteria, the ribosome is made up of a small and a large subunit; the 30S is the smaller part. It plays a key role in reading the genetic instructions from messenger RNA (mRNA) and assembling amino acids into proteins based on that information. The 30S contains ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and proteins, and its proper function is essential for cell survival and growth. It is also a target for certain antibiotics that inhibit bacterial protein synthesis.