Question

Why do ribosomes exist in the free and bound configurations in eukaryotic cells.

Answer 1

Ribosomes are found in two locations in the cell. Free ribosomes are present in the cytosol, the watery fluid inside the cell and are not attached to any other structure. Membrane-bound ribosomes are attached to a structure known as rough endoplasmic reticulum.

For the production of different-different proteins ribosomes exists in the free and bound configuration in eukaryotic cells.

Free and membrane-bound ribosomes produce different proteins. Whereas membrane-bound ribosomes produce proteins that are exported from the cell to be used elsewhere, free ribosomes produce proteins used inside the cell itself.

Proteins Produced by Free Ribosomes

Ribosomes are important because they are responsible for protein synthesis. Free ribosomes, in particular, are important because they produce proteins essential for internal cellular activity, which are not synthesized elsewhere. These include proteins used in the cytosol and the supportive structure known as the cytoskeleton, as well as those used by the mitochondria, which produces the cell’s energy, and, in plant cells, chloroplasts. Without free ribosomes, the various components of the cell could not function

Proteins made by bound ribosomes either function within the endomembrane system or pass through it and are secreted from the cell.