What is the Function of Ribosomes: Detailed facts

Ribosomes are tiny particles or a component in the cytoplasm of the cell that has RNA and other connected or related proteins. But what exactly is the role of ribosomes in the cell?

What is the function of ribosomes, we know that proteins are very essential molecules for any cellular mechanism. The main role or function of the ribosome as an organelle in the cell is they aid in protein synthesis. 

Now a question arises, how and when does the synthesis of protein take place. 

Each and every question will be solved in this article on  what is the function of ribosomes in cell, animal cell, plant cell, chloroplast and mitochondria.

What is the function of ribosomes in cells?

Ribosome is an organelle that is located either on the cytoplasm or within other organelles like endoplasmic reticulum, chloroplast, mitochondria of the cell.

Ribosomes aid in the conversion of genetic information into proteins. To be more precise, the organelle ribosome is like a space or site in which the synthesis of protein happens.

What is the function of ribosomes in animal cells?

The cellular components and their functions in animal cells are much more complex than other organisms.

In animal cells, The complex mechanisms and structures must be maintained by proteins. So the purpose of ribosomes in animal cells are to aid in the synthesis of protein processes.

Read More on Do humans have animal cell?

What is the function of ribosomes in plant cells?

Plant cell structures and mechanisms are unique in their own way

Ribosomes serve as a site of protein synthesis as they do in animals or other cells. The mRNA is inspected and translated into corresponding amino acids and thus forms the polypeptide chain that is the protein.

What is the function of ribosomes in mitochondria?

We know that mitochondria is an organelle that produces the energy molecule- Adenosine triPhosphate (ATP) in eukaryotic cells.

The ribosomes present inside the mitochondria are called Mitochondrial ribosomes. These mitochondrial ribosomes or the mitoribosomes aid in the synthesis of the membrane proteins that are seen in the mitochondria which is known as mitochondrial membrane proteins.

These exclusively produce only membrane proteins for mitochondria.

What is the function of ribosomes in bacteria?

Bacteria are simple prokaryotic organisms.

In bacteria, the ribosomes serve as the site for translation of mRNA and synthesis of protein. In Bacteria, the subunits are 50s(Large) subunits and 30s(Small) subunits.

What is the function of ribosomes in chloroplasts?

Chloroplasts are the organelle that has chlorophyll and gives a bright green color to the plants and organisms that have chloroplast in it.

Recent findings state that the ribosomes are present inside the matrix of chloroplast. Their main role is to aid in chloroplast gene expression.

What is the composition of a ribosome?

Ribosome is an organelle that consists of 2 ribosomal subunit.

The ribosomal Subunit- Small:

This subunit scrutinizes the mRNA strand.

The ribosomal Subunit- Large:

This subunit helps in the formation of the amino acid polypeptide chains.

In order to know more about the functions of ribosomes, we need to understand the structure of ribosomes.

Explanation on structure of ribosome:

The ribosome has 2 RNA- Protein complexes which are known as subunits.

The structure of ribosomes can be compared to that of a sandwich (2 buns on the opposite side and the main ingredient in between them-Middle). The same way, the large subunit is placed on the top of the small subunit and the mRNA strand that needs to be translated is placed in the middle.

what is the function of ribosomes
Structure of Ribosome
Image Credits- Wikimedia

In case of eukaryotes, the nucleus directs the function to the ribosome.

In the case of prokaryotes, they have no nucleus. So the translation process starts immediately and does not wait for any orders.

The ribosomes are floating freely in the cytoplasm or present on the top of the other organelles like endoplasmic reticulum, which are called Rough endoplasmic reticulum or RER.

Do prokaryotes have ribosomes?

Yes, ribosomes are present in prokaryotes. They have 70s (S- Svedberg ) ribosomes.

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Do eukaryotes have ribosomes?

Yes, ribosomes are present in eukaryotes. They have 80s (S- Svedberg ) ribosomes.

Read More on Eukaryotic cell examples

What exactly happens inside the ribosome?

Ribosome is a space where the synthesis of protein happens. This process is called translation.

Translation is a process in which the mRNA strand which is the end product of transcription process codes for the basic units of proteins, that is the amino acid and the synthesis of protein takes place.

The mRNA or the Messenger RNA is scrutinized or inspected. tRNA or the Transfer RNA adds the corresponding amino acid codons and thus forms the polypeptide chain.

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