What is the primary function of ribosomes in a cell?

Ribosomes are essential cellular structures that play a crucial role in protein synthesis. Their primary function is to translate messenger RNA (mRNA) into polypeptide chains, which then fold into functional proteins. Ribosomes achieve this by facilitating the binding of transfer RNA (tRNA), which carries specific amino acids corresponding to the codons on the mRNA. This process occurs in two stages: initiation, where ribosomes assemble around the mRNA, and elongation, where amino acids are linked together to form a growing polypeptide chain.

The importance of ribosomes in protein synthesis is underscored by their presence in all living cells, where they contribute to the production of enzymes, structural proteins, and hormones, thereby influencing virtually all cellular functions and processes. The accurate assembly of proteins is vital for cellular integrity and functionality, making ribosomes fundamental to life at the cellular level.