Biological complexity: mitochondrial protein supply (Introduction)

by David Turell , Tuesday, September 05, 2017, 00:40 (2637 days ago) @ David Turell

Ribosomes are now found attached to mitochondria to supply needed proteins:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170830114753.htm

"Mitochondria, which exist within human cells but have their own DNA, need many different proteins to function -- but the process of how they get these has never been imaged in detail.

"Now a study led by Dr Vicki Gold, of the University of Exeter, has shown that some ribosomes --the tiny factories of cells which produce proteins -- are attached to mitochondria. This can explain how proteins are pushed into mitochondria whilst they are being made.

"Proteins are responsible for nearly all cellular processes. The cell has to make a huge variety of proteins and target them to the precise location where they are needed to function," said Dr Gold, of Exeter's Living Systems Institute.

"'In the case of mitochondria, proteins have to cross the boundary of two membranes to get inside them.

"'We looked for -- and were able to image at unprecedented detail -- ribosomes attached to mitochondria."

"The images were taken using cutting-edge technology called cryo-electron microscopy."

Comment: As mitochondria were added to cells by being engulfed ( according to theory) they need a source of continuous protein supply, and it is now found. Logically, when mitochondria were recruited, the ribosomes had to be formed and activated, in one designed step. It would not have worked if not formed in one step by design.