What is the role of chaperones in protein synthesis?

Chaperones play a critical role in the proper folding of newly synthesized proteins, ensuring that they attain their functional three-dimensional structures. During the translation process, proteins emerge from the ribosome in a linear form and may become prone to misfolding or aggregation due to hydrophobic interactions or the presence of partially formed structures. Chaperones assist in these processes by binding to exposed hydrophobic regions on the nascent polypeptide chains, thereby preventing premature aggregation and misfolding.

This function is essential because properly folded proteins are crucial for biological activity, and aberrantly folded proteins can lead to dysfunctional behavior or diseases. Thus, the primary role of chaperones in protein synthesis is to maintain protein integrity and assist in the correct refolding and assembly of proteins, which is accurately captured by the selected answer.