ribosome Cytology.
(ˈraɪbəʊsəʊm)
[f. ribonucleic a. + -some4.]
Each of the particles of ribonucleic acid and associated proteins found in the cytoplasm of living cells, which bind to messenger RNA and synthesize polypeptides.
| 1958 R. B. Roberts Microsomal Particles & Protein Synthesis p. viii, To some of the participants, microsomes mean the ribonucleoprotein particles of the microsomal fraction contaminated by other protein and lipid material; to others, the microsomes consist of protein and lipid contaminated by particles. The phrase ‘microsomal particles’ does not seem adequate, and ‘ribonucleoprotein particles of the microsome fraction’ is much too awkward. During the meeting the word ‘ribosome’ was suggested... The present confusion would be eliminated if ‘ribosome’ were adopted to designate ribonucleoprotein particles in the size range 20 to 100 S. 1961 Times 18 Aug. 12/4 Protein synthesis seems in fact to be localized in small bodies, known as ribosomes. 1967 New Scientist 28 Sept. 661/1 The ribosomes of mitochondria are probably of the 70S (bacterial) variety. 1974 M. C. Gerald Pharmacol. iii. 52 Some of the reticulum appears ‘rough’, because of the presence of dense bodies termed ribosomes. |
Hence riboˈsomal a., of or pertaining to a ribosome; ribosomal RNA, the RNA of a ribosome.
| 1960 Jrnl. Molecular Biol. II. 109 It appears likely..that ribosomal protein, like histone.., consists largely of α-helical protein. 1961 Nature 13 May 581/2 It was thought most likely that ribosomal RNA was genetically specific. 1970 Ambrose & Easty Cell Biol. iii. 114 It now seems that one of the chief metabolic functions of the nucleolus is the synthesis of ribosomal RNA, and possibly even the formation of complete ribosomal particles..from RNA and ribosomal proteins. |