What would happen if ribosomes can make proteins any more?
In two words: Cell death. Ribosomes are crucial for the operation of a cell as ribosomes translate mRNA into proteins and this is the only place where proteins are made in a cell. Proteins are required to carry out or facilitate the functions of a cell and when protein synthesis ceases the cell can no longer regulate itself and will die. It is important to note that proteins have a lifetime in a cell and do not last for the whole life of the cell (there are only a few exceptions) so when proteins degrade and are not regenerated the cell is doomed. Examples of instances where ribosomes stop working: Diphtheria: disease that inhibits the ribosome and prevents it from working at all. Cell death is the result. Ricin. The most toxic substance known to man. The least bit of ricin present in a person will kill the person because the toxin completely inhibits cellular ribosomal function.
