nucleolus
Sign in to savethumb |292px |Nucleolus contained within the cell nucleus
AI overview
The nucleolus is a structure found inside the cell nucleus that plays a key role in making ribosomes, which are the cellular machines responsible for building proteins in living cells. This makes the nucleolus important for basic cell function, since producing proteins is essential for nearly all life processes.
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Article
8 sectionsContents
- History
- Structure
- Function and ribosome assembly
- Sequestration of proteins
- See also
- References
- Further reading
- External links
thumb |292px |Nucleolus contained within the cell nucleus
The nucleolus (; : nucleoli ) is the largest structure in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells. It is best known as the site of ribosome biogenesis. The nucleolus also participates in the formation of signal recognition particles and plays a role in the cell's response to stress. Nucleoli are made of proteins, DNA and RNA, and form around specific chromosomal regions called nucleolar organizing regions. Malfunction of the nucleolus is the cause of several human conditions called "nucleolopathies" and the nucleolus is being investigated as a target for cancer chemotherapy.