AEMCA Practice Exam

What is the role of the Golgi apparatus?

1. To produce energy for the cell

2. To package proteins and send them to correct locations in the cell

3. To store genetic information

4. To synthesize lipids

The correct answer is: To package proteins and send them to correct locations in the cell

The Golgi apparatus plays a crucial role in the cell's processing and transport system. Its primary function is to modify, sort, and package proteins and lipids that have been synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Once proteins are synthesized in the ER, they are transported to the Golgi apparatus, where they undergo further modifications, such as glycosylation (the addition of sugar molecules) and phosphorylation (the addition of phosphate groups). After these modifications, the Golgi apparatus sorts the proteins and packages them into vesicles that are targeted to specific locations within the cell or secreted outside the cell. This sorting and shipping function is essential for maintaining cellular organization and ensuring that proteins reach their intended destinations, which is vital for normal cell function and communication. The other options highlight functions that are not associated with the Golgi apparatus. Energy production is primarily the role of mitochondria, while storing genetic information is the function of the nucleus. Lipid synthesis mainly occurs in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum, not the Golgi apparatus. Therefore, the selection that identifies the Golgi apparatus as the organelle responsible for packaging proteins and sending them to their correct locations accurately reflects its established role in cellular processes.