Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER): Structure and Functions
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.
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 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.