What are the two main functions of the Golgi apparatus?

The Golgi apparatus plays a crucial role in the post-translational processing of proteins synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum. Its primary functions are protein modification and sorting.

During protein modification, the Golgi apparatus processes nascent proteins by adding carbohydrate groups (glycosylation), phosphate groups (phosphorylation), or sulfate groups, which can significantly affect the protein's function, stability, and activity. This modification is essential for the proper functioning of proteins once they are secreted or sent to their respective destinations within or outside the cell.

After modification, the Golgi apparatus sorts and packages these proteins into vesicles based on their destination, ensuring that they reach the correct site within the cell, such as the lysosome, plasma membrane, or secretion outside the cell. This sorting mechanism relies on specific signals within the proteins that dictate their final location.

In contrast, other options involve processes that are not directly managed by the Golgi apparatus, such as transcription and translation, which are functions of the nucleus and ribosomes; lipid synthesis, linked to the smooth endoplasmic reticulum; and cell division, which is a process involving the entire cell cycle rather than any single organelle. Thus, the primary functions of the Golgi apparatus