Final answer:
The Golgi apparatus or Golgi body is an organelle that modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and lipids from the rough ER for transport within or outside the cell. It also produces lysosomes and synthesizes polysaccharides in plant cells for the cell wall or other cellular uses.
Step-by-step explanation:
Main Role of the Golgi Body in a Cell
The Golgi apparatus, sometimes referred to as the Golgi body or Golgi complex, is an essential organelle found in the cells of both plants and animals. Its main function is to modify, sort, and package proteins and lipids for transport to different destinations within or outside the cell. Proteins and lipids received from the rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) are processed in the Golgi body where they may have sugars added to them, transforming them into glycoproteins or glycolipids. Additionally, the Golgi apparatus is involved in the creation of lysosomes, which are necessary for breaking down waste within the cell.
In plant cells, the Golgi has an even greater responsibility as it also synthesizes polysaccharides; these can be incorporated into the cell wall or used elsewhere in the cell. Because of its role as the cell's 'post office,' the Golgi body is fundamental to the cell's ability to communicate and interact with its environment, whether that involves exporting substances out of the cell, embedding them into the cell membrane, or directing them to other locations within the cell.