What is the role of ribosomes in translation?

Ribosomes function as protein assembly factories in cells, translating the genetic instructions encoded in mRNA into chains of amino acids, which form proteins. They rely on specific tRNA molecules, helper proteins, and energy from cellular processes to carry out initiation, elongation and termination of peptide production. During initiation, the ribosome binds to the mRNA molecule at the start codon (usually AUG) with the help of initiation factors and the small subunit of the ribosome. This occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell. Once the ribosome is positioned on the mRNA, it begins the process of elongation. tRNA molecules carrying specific amino acids bind to complementary codons on the mRNA, with the assistance of the ribosome and elongation factors. The ribosome catalyzes the formation of peptide bonds between adjacent amino acids, resulting in the formation of a growing polypeptide chain. Translation continues until a stop codon (UAA, UGA, or UAG) is reached on the mRNA. At this point, release factors bind to the ribosome, causing the newly synthesized polypeptide chain to be released from the ribosome. The ribosome then dissociates into its subunits, and the mRNA is released.