The enzyme that performs the light-generating reaction in fireflies is called luciferase. Luciferase is a single polypeptide chain, located in the cytoplasm of firefly lantern cells. Luciferase protein is synthesized by ribosomes1) free in the cytoplasm 2) attached to the rough endoplasmic reticulum 3) attached to the plasma

The correct answer to the question is: 1) free in the cytoplasm.

Explanation:

Ribosomes are responsible for synthesising polypeptide chains by the process of translation from mRNA or messenger Ribonucleic Acid.They are found free in the cytoplasm or remain bound to the Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) to form the Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER).The cytoplasmic proteins are synthesised by the free ribosomes.The membrane proteins, secretory proteins and the organelle specific proteins are synthesised by the Ribosomes located on the Endoplasmic Reticulum.This is because these proteins need to be translocated to the target organs through vesicles that buds out of the ER and and the Golgi bodies.As the luciferase polypeptide is located in the cytoplasm, it is synthesised by the free ribosomes present in the cytoplasm.

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