Thursday 2 January 2014

The appearance, ultrastructure and function of endoplasmic reticulum.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) provides a surface for the synthesis of different molecules needed in a cell. It can also store and transport these materials.

The molecules involved depend on the type of ER:

  • Rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) makes and transport proteins and glycoproteins; it has ribosomes on its surface because they are involved in protein synthesis.
  • Smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) stores, transports and synthesises lipids and carbohydrates.
ER is sometimes continuous with (attached to) the nucleus of a cell.

Not to scale


ER is made up of 'flattened sacs' called cisternae surrounded by a membrane. Both types are complex structures but SER looks more tubular compared to the 'liney' RER.

Not to scale

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