Ribosome

2020 JAN 25

Preliminary   > Science and Technology   >   Biotechnology   >   Basics of biotechnology

WHY IN NEWS?

Nobel laureate, Venkatraman Ramakrishnan delivered the lecture ‘My Adventures in the Ribosome’ as part of the 10th edition of the TNQ Distinguished Lectures in the Life Sciences 2020.

ABOUT RIBOSOME

  • The ribosome is a cell organelle made of ribosomal RNA molecules and proteins that form a factory for protein synthesis in cells.
  • In 1955, George E. Palade discovered ribosomes and described them as small particles in the cytoplasm that preferentially associated with the endoplasmic reticulum membrane.
  • Ribosomes occur both as free particles in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and as particles attached to the membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum in eukaryotic cells.
  • Along with other scientists, Palade discovered that ribosomes performed protein synthesis in cells, and he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1974 for his work.
  • Each ribosome has a large component and a small component that together form a single unit composed of several ribosomal RNA molecules and dozens of proteins.
  • The ribosome is responsible for translating encoded messages from messenger RNA molecules to synthesize proteins from amino acids.

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Prelims Question

Q. Which of the following cell organelles perform the function of synthesizing proteins or peptides from amino acids?
a. Ribosome
b. Lysozome
c. Golgi apparatus
d. Mitochondria

Answer to the Prelims Question