Cell Ribosome

Ribosomes are like tiny factories in the cell. They make proteins that perform all sorts of
functions for the cell's operation.

Where are ribosomes located inside the cell?

Ribosomes are either located in the liquid inside the cell called the cytoplasm or
attached to the membrane. They can be found in both prokaryote (bacteria) and
eukaryote (animals and plants) cells.

Organelle

Ribosomes are a type of organelle. Organelles are structures that perform specific
functions for the cell. The ribosome's job is to make proteins. Other organelles include
the nucleus and the mitochondria.

Ribosome Structure
The ribosome has two main components called the large subunit and the small subunit.
These two units come together when the ribosome is ready to make a new protein.
Both of the subunits consist of strands of RNA and various proteins.
 Large subunit - The large subunit contains the site where new bonds are made
when creating proteins. It is called the "60S" in eukaryotic cells and the "50S" in
prokaryotic cells.
 Small subunit - The small subunit really isn't that small, just a bit smaller than the
large subunit. It is responsible for the flow of information during protein synthesis.
It is called the "40S" in eukaryotic cells and the "50S" in prokaryotic cells.
The "S" in the subunit names is a unit of measure and stands for the Svedberg unit.
Protein Synthesis

The main job of the ribosome is to make proteins for the cell. There can be hundreds of
proteins that need to be made for the cell, so the ribosome needs specific instructions
on how to make each protein. These instructions come from the nucleus in the form of
messenger RNA. Messenger RNA contain specific codes that act like a recipe to tell the
ribosome how to make the protein.

There are two main steps in making proteins: transcription and translation. The
ribosome does the translation step. You can go here to learn more about proteins.

Translation

Translation is the process of taking the instructions from the messenger RNA and
turning it into a protein. Here are the steps the ribosome takes to make the protein:
 The two subunits join together with the messenger RNA.
 The ribosome finds the correct starter place on the RNA called the codon.
 The ribosome moves down the RNA, reading the instructions on what amino acids
to attach to the protein. Every three letters on the RNA represents a new amino
acid.
 The ribosome attaches amino acids building up the protein.
  It stops building the protein when it reaches a "stop" code in the RNA telling it that
the protein is ready.
Interesting Facts about the Ribosome
 The "rib" in ribosome comes from ribonucleic acid (RNA) which provides the
instructions on making proteins.
 They are made inside the nucleolus of the nucleus. Once they are ready they are
sent outside the nucleus through pores in the nucleus' membrane.
 Ribosomes are different from most organelles in that they are not surrounded by a
protective membrane.
 The ribosome was discovered in 1974 by Albert Claude, Christian de Duve, and
George Emil Palade. They won the Nobel Prize for their discovery.