Wow!! This is an awesome website!! Thank you soooo much!!! I owe you one!!

Hey! I need help on a question in science...

The question is:
After proteins are made by the ribosomes, how do they leave the cell?

What is this process called??

I seriously don't get it!! Please help....

Thanks!!

http://www.sinauer.com/cooper/4e/chapter10.html

You're welcome! I'm glad you find this website awesome. I'm here to help you with your science question.

After proteins are made by the ribosomes in the cell, they need to leave the cell and reach their intended destination within the organism. This process is called protein secretion.

Protein secretion is facilitated by a complex network of intracellular and extracellular pathways. There are two major pathways through which proteins can be secreted: the constitutive pathway and the regulated pathway.

1. Constitutive pathway: It is a continuous process where proteins are constantly secreted from the cell without requiring any specific stimulation. In this pathway, the proteins are packaged into transport vesicles, which bud off from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and then fuse with the Golgi apparatus. From there, the proteins are further sorted and packaged into secretory vesicles, which eventually fuse with the plasma membrane and release the proteins outside the cell.

2. Regulated pathway: This pathway is specific to certain cells and is triggered by a specific signal or stimulus. In this pathway, the proteins are stored in secretory vesicles within the cell until they receive the appropriate signal to be released. When the signal is received, the secretory vesicles fuse with the plasma membrane and release the proteins outside the cell.

These pathways ensure that proteins are transported out of the cell and reach their intended destinations, where they can perform their designated functions. It is important to note that not all proteins are secreted, and a significant portion remains within the cell to carry out various intracellular functions.

For more detailed information on protein secretion and related processes, you can refer to the provided link: http://www.sinauer.com/cooper/4e/chapter10.html

I hope this explanation helps you understand how proteins leave the cell after being made by ribosomes. Let me know if you have any further questions!