iyloplasm
Endo: nsdo plasme t
EndoplasmicReticulumHekeulum noluuok)
ulum
Endoplasmic reticulum is a sub-cellular organelles composed of singe membranous network of
membrane bound cavities, Vesicles and tubules distributed throughout the cytoplasm. It is a largest cel
organelle discovered by Porter in 1948 and called it as "Endoplasmic Reticulum' due to its net-like
appearance; however it was first observed by Garnier in 1897 and called it as 'Ergastoplasm'. It is mainly
concerned with the biosynthesis of proteins and lipids (post-translational modification). However, it is
not present everywhere. It is absent from eggs, embryonic cells, RBC and bacteria.
There are two types of endoplasmic reticulum; granular or rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) and
agranular or smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER).
1. Rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER)- Granular appearance is due to spherical granular structures
called ribosomes which are attached on the surface. Ribosomes is responsible for protein synthesis.
The binding site of ribosomes on the RER is called as translocon. It occurs in almost all cells which
are actively engaged in protein synthesis, such as Liver cells, goblet cells, pancreatic cells, and
plasma cels.It is generally found in the form of flattened sacs.
2. Smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER)- Ribosomes are not attached with the membranes so the
appearance is smooth.It is well developed in cells that synthesize steroid hormones. It isa system
of tubules which occurs especially in those cells which are almost inactive in protein synthesis.
Nuclear pore
Nuclear envelope
Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
Cistemal space
Cistemac
Rough endoplasmic retieulumn
Ribosomes
Fig. Endoplasrmic reticulum
Nuciear enve lope
Tubule
branchine
Nucleus
Tubule
elongaton
Tubule
Tusion
Sheet-li ike ER cisternae ER tubules
Reticulum-
Ultrastructure of Endoplasmic
osicies tubuie
cisterna
reticuum
Fig. Components of endoplasmic
reticulum spread all over endoplasm.
1) Emanating from nuclear membrane, endoplasmic
Vesicles and tubules.
2) It consists of three distinct components: cisternae,
sac-like structures with 40-50
3) Cisternae- a) Cisternae are long flattened, unbranched
membrane.
umdiameter,which are formed by the folding of the
ribosomes are found associated with
b) They are arranged in parallel bundles where
the outer membrane.(RER)
c) They are normally present in secretory cells.
which are rounded or ovoidal
4) Vesicles- a) These are either transport or secretory vesicles,
structures having the diameter of 25-500 um.
at the end of cisternae
b) They are single membrane-bound organelle found generally
and tubules. Some are found left free in the cytoplasm.
c) The are abundantly found in secretory cells such as pancreatic cells.
d) They are formedwhen part of the ER or Golgi complex pinches or budded off. The fate
of the vesicles depend on the vesicle "coat" having distinct coat proteins, which binds to various
transmembrane receptor called cargo receptors. The vesicles may be coated with clathrin, COPl and
COPII, which help with sorting of vesicles to their final destination.Clathrin
coats are required for
trafficking between the Golgi and Plasma membrane; COPl are responsible for retrograde transport
from the Golgi to the ER, while COPll are responsible for anterogarde transport form the ER to the
Golgi.Clathrin coats are assembled in response to regulatory G -Protein due to association and
dissociation of ADP ribosylation factor (ARF) protein cis-Golgi complex.
5) Tubules-a) These are smooth walled and highly branched tubularspaces having diverse forms with
50-100 um.
b)They normally occur in non-secretory cells like striated muscle cells.
c) They are originated from the cisternae of the ER.
6) Lumen- The lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum is the internal space enclosed by the membrane. It is
continuous with the nuclear envelope and the Golgi apparatus. The lumen of the RER is the site of
protein folding and modification, whereas the lumen of the SER is involved in lipid metabolism and
calcium storage.
FUNCTIONS OF ER-
reticulum performs important functions of secretory, storage, circulatony and nervous
Endoplasmic reticulun
functions are:
the cel. Its
common
system for
11 Mechanical support: It divides the endoplasm into small fluid compartments which gives
cytoskeleton of the cells.
strength to the cells by acting
as
in the import, export and intracellular circulation of various
2) Transport: It is involved
substances of proteins, lipids, enzymes, etc.
3) Protein synthesis: Ribosomes attached synthesize proteins which are collected by the ER,
processed and transported to other parts of the cel.
4) Synthesis of cholesterol: Cholesterol is the precursor of the steroid hormones which is
synthesized by the ER.
5) Detoxification: Detoxification of drugs and pollutants are performed by the Liver cells in
the ER. Enzymatic processing of the toxic materials in the ER lets them to be soluble in
water which finally excreted through urine.
6) Lipid synthesis: It synthesizes triglycerides and phospholipids and also stores Lipids.
7) Glycogenolysis: The degradation of glycogen into glucose is called asGlycogenolysis which
is occurring mainly in liver and muscles. This process takes place inside the ER (It coverts
glucose-6-phosphate into glucose which Is then transported to the blood).
