The Role of Ribosomes in Protein Synthesis: A Comprehensive Guide

Organelle that makes proteins

The organelle responsible for protein synthesis in eukaryotic cells is called the ribosome

The organelle responsible for protein synthesis in eukaryotic cells is called the ribosome. Ribosomes are composed of specialized RNA molecules and proteins, and they play a crucial role in the translation of genetic information from DNA to protein. They are found in the cytoplasm of the cell, as well as on the rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in certain cell types.

When a cell needs to produce a protein, the DNA in the nucleus is transcribed into a messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule. This mRNA molecule carries the genetic information to the ribosome. The ribosome “reads” the mRNA and coordinates the assembly of amino acids into a specific sequence to form a polypeptide chain, which is the primary structure of a protein.

The process of protein synthesis occurs in two main stages: transcription and translation. Transcription takes place in the nucleus, where the DNA is copied into mRNA. The mRNA then leaves the nucleus and attaches to a ribosome in the cytoplasm or on the rough ER. This attachment initiates the process of translation.

During translation, the ribosome moves along the mRNA strand, decoding the genetic information and joining amino acids together with peptide bonds. The ribosome reads the mRNA in groups of three nucleotides called codons. Each codon codes for a specific amino acid, and the ribosome ensures that the right amino acid is added based on the codon sequence. This process continues until a stop codon is reached, signaling the end of protein synthesis.

In summary, the ribosome is the organelle responsible for protein synthesis. It reads the genetic information from mRNA and assembles amino acids into a polypeptide chain, ultimately forming a protein.

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