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Guilherme Mazui

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What is the Difference Between Free and Attached Ribosomes?

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The main difference between free and attached ribosomes lies in their location and the type of proteins they synthesize. Here are the key differences:

  • Location: Free ribosomes float freely in the aqueous cytosol and are not attached to any cellular structure, allowing them to move around the cell. In contrast, attached ribosomes are anchored to the cytosolic side of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER).
  • Protein Synthesis: Free ribosomes synthesize proteins that stay in the cytosol to be used within the cell itself, such as enzymes involved in metabolism, contractile proteins in muscle cells, and hemoglobin in red blood cells. Attached ribosomes, on the other hand, synthesize proteins that are transported out of the cell via secretory vesicles, including cell surface receptors, digestive enzymes, cell signaling molecules, and polypeptide hormones.

Despite these differences, both free and attached ribosomes are structurally and functionally identical, and they differ only in the proteins they are making at any given time.

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  • What is the Difference Between Free and Attached Ribosomes?
  • Comparative Table: Free vs Attached Ribosomes

    • Comparative Table: Free vs Attached Ribosomes

    The main differences between free and attached ribosomes are their location, mobility, and the types of proteins they synthesize. Here is a table summarizing these differences:

    Feature Free Ribosomes Attached Ribosomes
    Location Freely located in the cytoplasm Attached to the cytosolic side of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER)
    Mobility Freely floating in the cytoplasm and move all around the cell Anchored to the rough ER and remain in a fixed position on its surface
    Function Synthesize proteins in the cytoplasm Synthesize proteins that are transported out of the cell via secretory vesicles
    Protein Type Most of the proteins synthesized by free ribosomes are for use within the cell, such as enzymes involved in the metabolism of macromolecules and food Proteins synthesized by attached ribosomes include cell surface receptors, digestive enzymes, cell signaling molecules, and polypeptide hormones

    Both free and attached ribosomes are involved in synthesizing proteins through the translation of messenger RNA (mRNA).

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    Guilherme Mazui

    Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.