Rybosom

Rybosom is the Polish term for the ribosome, the molecular machine that translates genetic information from messenger RNA into proteins. Ribosomes are essential to protein synthesis in all living cells and are composed of ribosomal RNA and proteins. They assemble from two subunits that come together during translation and then dissociate after a polypeptide is released.

In bacteria, the ribosome is 70S, formed by a 50S large subunit and a 30S small subunit. In eukaryotes, the ribosome is 80S, comprising a 60S large subunit and a 40S small subunit. Organellar ribosomes in mitochondria and chloroplasts are typically 70S and resemble bacterial ribosomes in structure and function. The catalytic center for peptide bond formation is provided by the rRNA in the large subunit.

Functionally, ribosomes read codons on messenger RNA and recruit transfer RNAs to assemble amino acids into a growing polypeptide chain. The process proceeds through initiation, elongation, and termination, aided by various initiation, elongation, and release factors. In eukaryotes, initiation often involves recognition of the mRNA cap and, for certain proteins, targeting to the rough endoplasmic reticulum for secretion or membrane localization.

Localization and relevance vary by organism. In prokaryotes, ribosomes are primarily free in the cytosol; in eukaryotes, many ribosomes are free, while others attach to the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Clinically and scientifically, ribosomes are a major focus because antibiotics can selectively inhibit bacterial ribosomes, illustrating fundamental differences from eukaryotic counterparts. The term rybosom is used in Polish-language sources; in English, the standard term remains ribosome.