Which of the following statements best describes some aspect of protein secretion from prokaryotic cells?
A) Prokaryotes cannot secrete proteins because they lack an endomembrane system.
B) Proteins secreted by prokaryotes are likely synthesized on ribosomes bound to the cytoplasmic surface of the plasma membrane.
C) The mechanism of protein secretion in prokaryotes is probably the same as that in eukaryotes.
D) Prokaryotes cannot secrete proteins because they lack rough endoplasmic reticulum.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Prokaryotes, despite lacking an endomembrane system, can secrete proteins. These proteins are synthesized on ribosomes that are free in the cytoplasm, not bound to the plasma membrane as in eukaryotes. However, the statement that comes closest to describing a process related to protein secretion in prokaryotes is the synthesis of proteins on ribosomes, albeit the detail about their attachment to the plasma membrane is more characteristic of eukaryotic cells. Prokaryotic cells do have mechanisms for protein secretion, such as the Sec system and twin-arginine translocation (Tat) pathway, which involve the translocation of proteins across or into the plasma membrane.

Which of the Following Statements Best Describes Some Aspect of Protein