Which of the following is NOT a function of mesosomes?

Mesosomes are invaginations of the plasma membrane in prokaryotic cells that were historically thought to play several roles related to cellular processes. Among these, key functions attributed to mesosomes include involvement in DNA replication and the division process, as they help anchor the DNA to the cell membrane during replication and facilitate the segregation of genetic material during cell division.

When considering protein synthesis, it is essential to recognize that this occurs primarily on ribosomes, which may be free-floating within the cytoplasm or associated with the cell membrane but are not specifically connected to mesosomes. Therefore, the assertion that mesosomes participate directly in protein synthesis does not align with their recognized functions. Moving to the export of extracellular enzymes, this process is typically mediated by specific cellular mechanisms such as secretion systems and not by mesosomes.

Thus, identifying protein synthesis as not being a function of mesosomes is accurate, as their role does not encompass this process directly.