Question

Watson called DNA "the most golden of all molecules"primarily because of its protein synthesis. How would you describe the importance of the process of protein synthesis in the functioning of a cell?

Answer 1

Answer. Protein synthesis or translation takes place in the cytoplasm of the cell. DNA helps in the gene expression. Ribosomes attached on the endoplasmic reticulum accomplish this process.

The product of translation is the primary structure of protein that tells us the sequence of amino acids. After post translational modification in the golgi complex, proteins are made functional.

A functional protein can work as an enzyme, a transmembrane protein, extrinsic protein, intrinsic protein, may work as cell marker, may form antibody, cytoskeletal elements, can maintain pH and lot more.

The basic requirement of a cell is to derive energy and comes when the catabolic process, respiration is accomplished in a cell.

In human beings the major amount of respiration is aerobic as we are basically dependent upon oxygen. This process gets accomplished in four major steps, each step requires a specific enzyme and then ATP is gained at the last step.

This ATP is used as energy currency by the cell to accomplish various processes.

Lysosomes also contain variety of hydrolases that helps in phagocytosis.

A cell performs variey of activities and the majority of them are dependent upon the macromolecule, protein.