Hepatitis C is a virus that attacks the liver and can cause liver disease. Liver disease has been linked to a reduction in albumin levels in patients analyzed. Albumin is an important protein in humans. It functions primarily to regulate oncotic pressure of blood, which is important for the regulation of fluids in vessels of the body and tissue repair. On average, patients with liver disease show a 10-30% decrease in blood-albumin levels. (a) Identify the organelle in liver cells that is most likely being affected by hepatitis C and (b) justify your reasoning.

a) Ribosomes

b) Please find the justification for the answer in (a) below.

Explanation:

According to this question, Hepatitis C is a virus that causes liver disease by attacking the liver. However, a REDUCTION IN ALBUMIN, which is a protein that regulates oncotic pressure of blood in humans- a process necessary for the regulation of fluids in vessels of the body and tissue repair, has been found to have to do with liver disease.

Since ALBUMIN is a protein produced by the liver, which when diseased causes a reduction to the blood-albumin level, the organelle in liver cells that is most likely being affected by hepatitis C is the RIBOSOME. This is because the RIBOSOME is the organelle/site for PROTEIN SYNTHESIS in any cell. Hence, the ribosome organelle of the liver cells are responsible for synthesis of Albumin protein.

Hence, a diseased liver due to attack by Hepatitis C virus means an attack on the RIBOSOMES of the liver cells producing the protein.