Principles of Biochemistry

7.5.2 Efficiency of mRNA Utilization

Many ribosomes can move simultaneously along a single mRNA molecule. In this highly efficient arrangement, many identical protein chains can be synthesized almost at the same time from a single strand of mRNA. This multiple use of mRNA molecules reduces the amount of resources and energy that the cell expends to synthesize needed protein. Such complexes of several ribosomes and mRNA are called polyribosomes or polysomes. A polysome is a complex of mRNA and several ribosomes.