what organelle makes proteins
The organelle that makes proteins in the cell is the ribosome.
What ribosomes do
Ribosomes are small cell structures that build proteins by linking amino acids together in a specific order, following instructions coded in messenger RNA (mRNA). These amino acid chains then fold into functional proteins that the cell uses for structure, enzymes, and many other jobs.
Where ribosomes are found
- Free in the cytoplasm, where they make proteins that usually stay inside the cell.
- Attached to the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), where they make proteins that are often sent to the membrane or secreted out of the cell.
Quick clarification
Several parts of the cell help with protein production (like the nucleus, rough ER, and Golgi apparatus), but ribosomes are considered the main “protein factories” because they are the direct site of protein synthesis.