The organelle responsible for making insulin, a protein hormone released from pancreatic cells, is the rough endoplasmic reticulum (rough ER). Here's why:
1. Protein Synthesis: Insulin is a protein hormone, which means it is made up of amino acids linked together in a specific sequence. This process of assembling proteins occurs on ribosomes, which are attached to the rough endoplasmic reticulum.
2. Role of Rough ER: The rough ER plays a crucial role in protein synthesis by providing a platform for ribosomes to synthesize proteins. As the ribosomes create the insulin protein, the rough ER helps in folding and modifying the newly formed protein to ensure its proper structure and function.
3. Transportation: Once the insulin protein is synthesized and processed in the rough ER, it is then transported to the Golgi apparatus for further modification and packaging before being released from the cell.
Therefore, in the context of insulin production in pancreatic cells, the rough endoplasmic reticulum plays a key role in the synthesis and processing of the insulin protein before it is released to carry out its functions in the body.
