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How is polyribosome formation advantageous for expression of a specific protein?

User Nkalvi
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Final answer:

Polyribosome formation increases the efficiency of protein synthesis by allowing multiple ribosomes to translate the same mRNA simultaneously, producing larger amounts of protein in a shorter time frame.

Step-by-step explanation:

Polyribosome formation is advantageous for the expression of a specific protein because it significantly increases the efficiency of protein synthesis. In this process, multiple ribosomes translate the same mRNA transcript simultaneously, whereby a single mRNA strand can have several adjacent ribosomes making multiple copies of a protein. This concurrent translation means that a much larger amount of protein can be produced within the same time frame compared to when a single ribosome is used.

For instance, if a single ribosome translates an mRNA molecule in approximately one minute, multiple ribosomes on the same transcript can produce many times the number of the protein in the same minute. In bacteria, transcription and translation are coupled processes which further accelerates protein production. On the other hand, in eukaryotes, while translation must wait until mRNA processing is complete, polyribosome formation still enhances protein synthesis by allowing multiple ribosomes to work on a single mRNA strand once it's in the cytoplasm.

User Ben Kemp
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