Ribosome

Structure

• Situated in two areas of the cytoplasm, few are seen scattered in the cytoplasm and a few are connected to the endoplasmic reticulum.
• 80S ribosomes respectively comprising of little (40S) and substantial (60S) subunits.
• Composed of RNA (rRNA) and ribosomal protein.
• Whenever joined to the ER they are called the rough endoplasmic reticulum.
• The free and the bound ribosomes are very much alike in structure and are associated with protein synthesis.

Figure 5- Ribosome

Functions

• They assemble amino acids to form specific proteins, proteins are essential to carry out cellular activities.
• The proteins that are synthesized by the ribosomes present in the cytoplasm are used in the cytoplasm itself. The proteins produced by the bound ribosomes are transported outside the cell.