Ribosomes are small particles, made up of RNA and proteins. Present in all cells in which protein synthesis takes place, they are made up of two subunits, one of which is slightly larger than the other, for which the presence of magnesium is required for adhesion. They have a similar structure in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, differing however the mass, which is less in the former.
The function of ribosomes is of fundamental importance for protein synthesis.
In cells that synthesize 'export' proteins, such as digestive enzymes that are secreted in the stomach or intestines, most ribosomes adhere to the membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum. The ribosome-lined endoplasmic reticulum is called the rough endoplasmic reticulum. with rough endoplasmic reticulum, the network of membranes represents a pathway through which substances entering or leaving the cell are channeled.
A certain number of ribosomes linked to a long molecule of messenger RNA constitute, as a whole, a "polyribosome" or "polysome".
Click on the names of the various organelles to read the in-depth study
Image taken from www.progettogea.com
