Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) Definition

 Within the cytoplasm of most animal cells is an extensive network

(reticulum) of membrane-limited channels, collectively called the
endoplasmic reticulum (or ER).
 The endoplasmic reticulum is a name derived from the fact that in the
light microscope it looks like a “net in the cytoplasm.”
 The endoplasmic reticulum is only present in the eukaryotic cells.
However, the occurrence of the endoplasmic reticulum varies from
cell to cell.
 For example, the erythrocytes (RBC), egg and embryonic cells lack in
the endoplasmic reticulum.
 Some portion of ER membranes remains continuous with the plasma
membrane and the nuclear envelope.
 ER may be rough or smooth. The outer surface of rough ER has
attached ribosomes, whereas smooth ER does not have attached
ribosomes.
 The endoplasmic reticulum acts as secretory, storage, circulatory and
nervous system for the cell. It is also the site of the biogenesis of
cellular membranes.

Figure: Diagram of Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

Structure of Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)
 The membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum is 50 to 60 Aº thickness
and fluid-mosaic like the unit membrane of the plasma membrane.
  The membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum are found to contain
many kinds of enzymes that are needed for various important
synthetic activities. The most important enzymes are the stearases,
NADH-cytochrome C reductase, NADH diaphorase, glucose-6-
phosphatase, and Mg++ activated ATPase.
 The membrane of endoplasmic reticulum remains continuous with
the membranes of the plasma membrane, nuclear membrane, and
Golgi apparatus.
 The cavity of the endoplasmic reticulum is well developed and acts as
a passage for the secretory products.
The endoplasmic reticulum may occur in the following three forms:
1. Lamellar form or cisternae
2. Vesicular form or vesicle and
3. Tubular form or tubules.
The Cisternae
 RER usually exists as cisternae that occur in those cells which have
synthetic roles as the cells of the pancreas, notochord, and brain.
 The cisternae are long, flattened, sac-like, unbranched tubules having
a diameter of 40 to 50 μm.
 They remain arranged parallelly in bundles or stakes.
The Vesicles
 The vesicles are oval; membrane-bound vacuolar structures having a
diameter of 25 to 500 μm.
 They often remain isolated in the cytoplasm and occur in most cells
but especially abundant in the SER.
The Tubules
 The tubules are branched structures forming the reticular system
along with the cisternae and vesicles.
 They usually have a diameter from 50 to 190 μm and occur almost in
all the cells.
 Tubular form of ER is often found in SER and is dynamic in nature, i.e.,
it is associated with membrane movements, fission and fusion
between membranes of cytocavity network.
Types of Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)
1. Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum
 They are also called as the agranular endoplasmic reticulum.
 This type of endoplasmic reticulum possesses smooth walls because
the ribosomes are not attached to its membranes.
  The smooth type of endoplasmic reticulum occurs mostly in those
cells, which are involved in the metabolism of lipids (including
steroids) and glycogen. Eg. adipose cells, interstitial cells, glycogen
storing cells of the liver, conduction fibers of heart, spermatocytes,
and leucocytes.
2. Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum
 It possesses rough walls because the ribosomes remain attached to
its membranes.
 On their membranes, rough ER (RER) contains certain ribosome
specific, transmembrane glycoproteins, called ribophorins I and II,
to which are attached the ribosomes while engaged in polypeptide
synthesis.
 The rough type of endoplasmic reticulum is found abundantly in
those cells which are active in protein syntheses such as pancreatic
cells, plasma cells, goblet cells, and liver cells.
Functions
 Functions of smooth ER include lipid metabolism (both catabolism
and anabolism; they synthesize a variety of phospholipids,
cholesterol, and steroids).
 Glycogenolysis (degradation of glycogen; glycogen being
polymerized in the cytosol).
 Drug detoxification (by the help of the cytochrome P-450).
 The endoplasmic reticulum provides an ultrastructural skeletal
framework to the cell and gives mechanical support to the colloidal
cytoplasmic matrix.
 The exchange of molecules by the process of osmosis, diffusion and
active transport occurs through the membranes of the endoplasmic
reticulum.
 The endoplasmic reticulum is the main component of the
endomembrane system, also called the cytoplasmic vacuolar system
or cytocavity network.
 The endoplasmic membranes contain many enzymes that perform
various synthetic and metabolic activities. Further, the endoplasmic
reticulum provides an increased surface for various enzymatic
reactions.
 The endoplasmic reticulum acts as an intracellular circulatory or
transporting system.
  As a growing secretory polypeptide emerges from the ribosome, it
passes through the RER membrane and gets accumulated in the
lumen of RER. Here, the polypeptide chains undergo tailoring,
maturation, and molecular folding to form functional secondary or
tertiary protein molecules.
 RER pinches off certain tiny protein-filled vesicles which ultimately
get fused to cis Golgi.
 The ER membranes are found to conduct intra-cellular impulses. For
example, the sarcoplasmic reticulum transmits impulses from the
surface membrane into the deep region of the muscle fibers.
 The ER membranes form the new nuclear envelope after each nuclear
division.
 The SER contains several key enzymes that catalyze the synthesis of
cholesterol which is also a precursor substance for the biosynthesis
of two types of compounds— the steroid hormones and bile acids.
 RER also synthesize membrane proteins and glycoproteins which are
cotranslationally inserted into the rough ER membranes. Thus, the
endoplasmic reticulum is the site of the biogenesis of cellular
membranes.

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER)

The rough endoplasmic reticulum is a type of endoplasmic reticulum
consisting of flattened sacs, studded with protein-synthesizing
particles termed ribosomes on the outer surface.
 The rough endoplasmic reticulum is a part of the endomembrane
system that is present in the cytoplasm of the cell.
 The organelle is involved in the synthesis, folding, modification, and
transport of proteins to different organelles within the cell or
outside of the cell.
 The name ‘rough’ ER is given due to the appearance of ribosomes on
the surface as studs under the microscope.
 Found both in plant and animal cells, the RER membrane is
continuous with the nuclear membrane.
 It is usually located near the Golgi apparatus, and the protein
synthesized in the ribosomes on RER are packaged into vesicles and
transported to the Golgi body.
 Rough ER is primarily made up of flattened sacs called cisternae with
few tubules. The membrane is also provided with an essential
protein complex termed translocon, which is vital for translation
within RER.
 The ribosomes are attached to the endoplasmic reticulum with the
help of the group of proteins, termed ribophorins.
 The structure of rough ER is based on the presence of cytoskeletal
elements like microtubules, where changes in microtubules cause
changes to the structure of RER.
 Besides, the ribosomes present on the rough ER often detach
themselves and develop into individual cisternae.
 Within the lumen of the RER, newly formed proteins undergo slight
modifications like cleavage of signal sequences and glycosylation.
Some proteins might change their three-dimensional conformation
within the lumen.
 Rough ER is closely associated with the formation of lysosomes.
 Also, rough ER also plays a significant role in quality control during
the folding of the proteins where the ratio of sheets to tubules is
changed when the quantity of unfolded proteins increases in the
cell.
 Sometimes, apoptosis is initiated in the cell as a result of the increase
in the content of unfolded proteins.
 Similarly, rough ER also contains multiple enzymes that are involved
in RNA metabolism that function to bind and modify RNA.
 However, different diseases might result from the misfolding of
proteins in RER. Disease like spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia is
 attributed due to the accumulation of misfolded collagen
proteins in the RER.
Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (SER)
Smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) is a type of endoplasmic
reticulum consisting of tubular vesicles that lack ribosomes on the
outer surface and is involved in the synthesis and storage of lipids.
 Smooth ER is a part of the endomembrane system that form
important structural lipids like cholesterol and phospholipids.
 The term ‘smooth’ indicates the absence of ribosomes on the outer
surface, which results in a smooth outer surface.
 Smooth ER is formed from rough ER after the shedding of the
existing ribosomes of the surface.
 Smooth ER, like rough ER, is found in both animals and plants. In
humans, smooth ER is prominent in the cells of the liver that
produce steroid hormones.
 The smooth endoplasmic reticulum is mainly composed of a network
of tubules. It is mostly located nearby the cell membrane.
 These structures are often associated with the formation of
spherosomes or oleosomes.
 The tubular structure of smooth ER is prominent in the muscle and
nerve cells in humans that form networks with other cells.
 In muscle cells, the sarcoplasmic reticulum is formed of smooth ER
that are important in the accumulation of calcium ions.
 Smooth ER also has a dynamic structure that gives off new tubules
from the sides. These tubules also bind with the cytoskeletal
framework of the cell.
 The number of smooth ER in a cell depends on the type, location, and
function of the cell. Cells of muscles and glands have a
comparatively lesser number of SER.
 In the endocrine system, the smooth ER also responsible for the
synthesis of steroid hormones from cholesterol.
 In the liver, it produces enzymes that catalyze reactions responsible
for the removal of drugs, metabolic wastes, and harmful chemical
substances. The dynamic structure of SER enables it to accumulate
large quantities of harmful chemicals during detoxification.
 SER is thus essential for the detoxification of chemicals and the
removal of wastes.
  Besides, the smooth ER also contains the enzyme’s glucose-6-
phosphate that is important for the conversion of glycogen to
glucose.
 However, prolonged SER stress might result in the development and
progression of many diseases, including neurodegeneration,
atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, liver disease, and even cancer.

Key Differences (Rough endoplasmic reticulum

vs Smooth endoplasmic reticulum)
Basis for
Rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) Smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SE
comparison

Smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER

The rough endoplasmic reticulum is a type of
type of endoplasmic reticulum consis
endoplasmic reticulum consisting of flattened
Definition tubular vesicles that lack ribosomes o
sacs, studded with protein-synthesizing particles
outer surface and is involved in the sy
termed ribosomes on the outer surface.
and storage of lipids.

Smooth ER doesn’ thave ribosomes o

Ribosomes Rough ER has ribosomes on the outer surface.
outer surface.

The rough endoplasmic reticulum is mostly found The smooth endoplasmic reticulum is
Location
around the nuclear membrane. found near the cell membrane.

Smooth ER is formed after the shedd

Origin Rough ER is formed from the nuclear membrane.
ribosomes from rough ER.

Rough ER is mainly composed of cisternae with Smooth ER is mainly composed of a

Structure
few tubules. of tubules with few cisternae.

Rough ER posses narrow pores below the

No such pores are present on the surf
Structure ribosomes that allow the passage of newly
the smooth ER.
synthesized polypeptides to the cytosol.

Ribophorins are present on the surface of the Ribophorins are absent on the surface
Ribophorins
rough ER. smooth ER.

Rough ERs are involved in the formation of Smooth ERs are involved in the form
Involved in
lysosomes. spherosomes or oleosomes.

Numerous rough ER is found in lipid synthesizing Numerous smooth ER is found in pro

Found in
cells. synthesizing cells.

RER is mostly found in cells of glands and SER is mostly found in cells like mus
Type of cell
protein-producing organs. and nerve cells.
Golgi Rough ER provides proteins and lipids for the Smooth ER provides vesicles for the
apparatus Golgi apparatus. of the Golgi apparatus.

The rough endoplasmic reticulum is mostly The smooth endoplasmic reticulum is

Function associated with the production, modification, and associated with the production of lipi
transfer of proteins. the storage of calcium ions.

Prolonged SER stress might result in

Disease like spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia is development and progression of man
Diseases attributed due to the accumulation of diseases, including neurodegeneration
misfolded collagen proteins in the RER. atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, liver
and even cancer.