rybosomach

Rybosomach is a fictional cellular organelle proposed in speculative biology and science fiction to function as a combined translation and protein proteostasis compartment. The name merges "rybo-" (ribosome-like) with "-somach" (from stomach or body), signaling a role in handling nascent polypeptides. In the imagined models, rybosomachs are membrane-bound compartments; sizes vary, typically tens to a few hundred nanometers in diameter, scattered in the cytoplasm or associated with the endomembrane system.

Structure and components: They are described as containing ribosomal subunits, transfer RNAs, messenger RNA, molecular chaperones, and proteolytic enzymes. The interior is sometimes depicted with subdomains for translation, folding, and degradation, potentially separated by interfaces or pores.

Function: The proposed function is to couple translation with immediate quality control, so nascent chains can be folded or degraded on the spot, reducing misfolded proteins. Energy for these processes is thought to be supplied by localized ATPases, with potential links to the cell's bioenergetic organelles.

Status and usage: There is no empirical evidence for rybosomachs in real cells. They appear chiefly in speculative biology discussions and works of fiction as a thought experiment about organelle evolution, proteostasis, and cellular efficiency. Related concepts discussed in speculative contexts include ribosomes, proteasomes, and organelle evolution, used to explore how cells might optimize protein production and quality control.