Ribosomes are primarily responsible for which cellular process?

Ribosomes are primarily responsible for which cellular process?

• A. DNA replication
• B. Lipid synthesis
• C. Protein degradation
• D. Protein synthesis

Answer: (D)

Ribosomes are the cellular machines that synthesize proteins. They read the genetic message carried by messenger RNA and assemble amino acids into polypeptide chains, with transfer RNAs delivering the correct amino acids and matching their anticodons to the codons on the mRNA. This process, called translation, can occur freely in the cytoplasm or on the rough endoplasmic reticulum, producing proteins that will function in various parts of the cell or be secreted. The ribosome’s role is to form peptide bonds between amino acids and to coordinate the assembly until a stop codon signals the finished protein is released. Other cellular tasks mentioned—DNA replication, lipid synthesis, and protein degradation—are handled by different components: DNA replication uses DNA polymerases, lipid synthesis occurs mainly in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum and related enzymes, and protein degradation is carried out by proteasomes and lysosomes. So the primary function of ribosomes is protein synthesis.

Ribosomes are the cellular machines that synthesize proteins. They read the genetic message carried by messenger RNA and assemble amino acids into polypeptide chains, with transfer RNAs delivering the correct amino acids and matching their anticodons to the codons on the mRNA. This process, called translation, can occur freely in the cytoplasm or on the rough endoplasmic reticulum, producing proteins that will function in various parts of the cell or be secreted. The ribosome’s role is to form peptide bonds between amino acids and to coordinate the assembly until a stop codon signals the finished protein is released. Other cellular tasks mentioned—DNA replication, lipid synthesis, and protein degradation—are handled by different components: DNA replication uses DNA polymerases, lipid synthesis occurs mainly in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum and related enzymes, and protein degradation is carried out by proteasomes and lysosomes. So the primary function of ribosomes is protein synthesis.