Where in the cell does mRNA function during protein synthesis?

Where in the cell does mRNA function during protein synthesis?

• A. Cytoplasm
• B. Nucleus
• C. Ribosome
• D. Mitochondria

Answer: (A)

mRNA serves as the template that guides protein assembly, and the actual reading of that template happens at ribosomes. Those ribosomes reside in the cytoplasm, whether free in the cytosol or attached to the rough endoplasmic reticulum, so the translation process occurs there. In eukaryotes, transcription happens in the nucleus and the processed mRNA is exported to the cytoplasm for translation; prokaryotes lack a nucleus, so translation begins in the cytoplasm almost immediately after transcription. While mitochondria have their own translation system for a subset of proteins, the typical mRNA involved in cytosolic protein synthesis functions in the cytoplasm.

mRNA serves as the template that guides protein assembly, and the actual reading of that template happens at ribosomes. Those ribosomes reside in the cytoplasm, whether free in the cytosol or attached to the rough endoplasmic reticulum, so the translation process occurs there. In eukaryotes, transcription happens in the nucleus and the processed mRNA is exported to the cytoplasm for translation; prokaryotes lack a nucleus, so translation begins in the cytoplasm almost immediately after transcription. While mitochondria have their own translation system for a subset of proteins, the typical mRNA involved in cytosolic protein synthesis functions in the cytoplasm.