Ríbósómsins

Ríbósómsins is the genitive singular form of the Icelandic word ríbósóm, which translates to ribosome in English. Ribosomes are essential molecular machines found within all living cells. They are responsible for protein synthesis, a process also known as translation.

Ribosomes are composed of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and proteins. They consist of two main subunits, a large subunit and a small subunit, which come together to form a functional ribosome during protein synthesis. The genetic information for building proteins is encoded in messenger RNA (mRNA), which carries the instructions from DNA.

During translation, the mRNA molecule binds to the ribosome. Transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules then bring specific amino acids to the ribosome, matching them to the codons (three-nucleotide sequences) on the mRNA. The ribosome facilitates the formation of peptide bonds between these amino acids, linking them together in the correct order to create a polypeptide chain, which then folds into a functional protein. Ribosomes are therefore vital for the production of all proteins needed for cell structure and function.