Which molecule is a component of the ribosome and plays a vital role in protein synthesis?

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is a critical component of ribosomes, which are the cellular machinery responsible for protein synthesis. Ribosomes consist of two subunits, each made of rRNA and proteins. The rRNA molecules provide structural support and also play an essential role in catalyzing the formation of peptide bonds between amino acids during the translation process.

During protein synthesis, the ribosome facilitates the interaction of messenger RNA (mRNA), which carries the genetic code, and transfer RNA (tRNA), which brings amino acids to the ribosome. However, it is the rRNA that forms the core of the ribosome's structure and is vital for its function in assembling amino acids into proteins. This makes rRNA indispensable in the overall process of translation, as it ensures that the ribosome operates correctly and efficiently in synthesizing proteins from the mRNA template.

Small nuclear RNA (snRNA), while important in the splicing of pre-mRNA, does not have a direct role in the structure or function of ribosomes involved in protein synthesis.