which part of a cell synthesises proteins
Which part of a cell synthesizes proteins?
Answer: In a cell, the part responsible for synthesizing proteins is the ribosome. Ribosomes can be found floating in the cytoplasm or attached to the endoplasmic reticulum, which then is called the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) due to the presence of these ribosomes.
Here’s a brief explanation of the process:
-
Ribosomes: These are small structures composed of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and proteins. They catalyze the assembly of amino acids into protein chains. Each ribosome reads the mRNA (messenger RNA) sequence and translates it into a specific sequence of amino acids, building a protein in the process.
-
mRNA: This molecule carries the genetic instructions from DNA in the nucleus to ribosomes, dictating the order in which amino acids should be linked to form a particular protein.
-
tRNA (transfer RNA): This molecule helps decode the mRNA sequence into a protein. tRNA carries amino acids to the ribosome and matches them to the mRNA coding sequence.
-
Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER): This is part of the endomembrane system of the cell, studded with ribosomes. It plays a crucial role in the production and processing of proteins that are destined for export out of the cell or for the cell membrane.
Summary: Ribosomes are the key sites for protein synthesis in cells. They translate genetic information from mRNA to assemble amino acids into proteins. Ribosomes are found in the cytoplasm or bound to the rough endoplasmic reticulum, enhancing the cell’s ability to produce proteins efficiently.