TOPIC:

ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM
INTRODUCTION
 In the year 1945- The lace like membranes of the endoplasmic
reticulum were first seen in the cytoplasm of chick embryo cells.
 These are membrane bound channels, seen in the form of a
network of delicate strands and vesicles in the cytoplasm.
 These are single membrane cell organelles.
 These form an interconnected network of tubules, vesicles and
cisternae with in cells.
 ER are considered as one of the components of cytoskeleton
along with microtubules,microfilaments and intermediate
filaments.
 These are first of all observed by Porter, Claude and Fullman in
(1945) as a network.
 The term ”Endoplasmic reticulum” was first used by Porter and
Fullman (1952)
 Location
 Present in almost all eukaryotic cell.
 These are found to be absent in mature erythrocytes,ova,embryonic
cells and prokaryotes.
 The ER often occupies most of the cytoplasm.

Amount
• The ER varies in amount from cell to cell. In spermatocytes, it is
represented by a few vacuoles only.
• In the cells of adipose tissue, it is quite simple, having the form of
a few tubules.
• The cells that are actively synthesizing proteins, such as liver and
pancreatic cells and fibroblast, have abundant ER.
• Endoplasmic reticulum forms 30-60 % of the total membrane in a
cell.
Origin of endoplasmic
reticulum
 At present manner of origin of the endoplasmic is not
definitely known. The most concrete hypothesis is that the
ER is “budded” off from the nuclear envelope.

The ER appears to arise from the outer membrane of the

nuclear envelope by out folding , or from the plasma
membrane by in folding.

 The smooth ER seem to arise from the rough ER by

detachment of ribosomes.
 There are two basic morphological types of ER namely
RER and SER.
 The ER membrane is thinner (50 Ǻ) than that of
plasma membrane (80-100Ǻ thick)
Structure of endoplasmic
reticulum:
 The general structure of the endoplasmic reticulum is an
extensive membrane network of cisternae (sac-like
structures) held together by the cytoskeleton.
 The phospholipid membrane encloses a space, the
cisternal space (or lumen), which is continuous with the
perinuclear space but separate from the cytosol.
 The endoplasmic reticulum or ER is a maze of parallel
membranous tubules and flattened sacs surrounding the
nucleus that connects with the nuclear membrane and runs
throughout the cytoplasm.
•Endoplasmic reticulum varies extensive extending from the cell
membrane through the cytoplasm and forming a continuous
connection with the nuclear envelope.

 The surface of the rough endoplasmic reticulum is

studded with the protein manufacturing ribosome,
which gives it a rough appearance. Hence it is referred
as a rough endoplasmic reticulum.
 The smooth endoplasmic reticulum consists of
tubules, which are located near the cell periphery. This
network increases the surface area for the storage of
key enzymes and the products of these enzymes.
 STRUCTURE

PHYSICAL MOLECULAR
PHYSICAL STRUCTURE:
 The ER is 3-dimensional network of intracellular. It is formed
of three types of element:
1-Cisternae
2-Tubules
3-Vesicles

Cisternae:
 These are flattened , unbranched, sac-like element.
 They lie in stacks parallel to one another.
 They bear ribosomes on the surface that, therefore, appears
rough.
Tubules-
 These are irregular branching element which form a
network along with other element.
 These are often free of ribosomes.

Vesicles-
 These are oval and rounded ,vacuole like element.
 These are also free of ribosomes.
 All the element of ER freely communicates with one
another, and contain a fluid called endoplasmic matrix, in
the ER lumen.
 Their matrix is different from cytoplasmic matrix outside
the ER.
Molecular structure:-
• The membrane of ER are composed of two layers of
phospholipid molecules sandwiched by two layers of proteins
molecules like other membrane in the cell.
Endoplasmic Matrix
 The space inside the tubules and vesicles is filled with a
watery medium that is different from the fluid in the
cytosol outside the ER.

 Their walls are constructed of lipid bilayers membranes

that contains large amount of proteins , similar to the cell
membrane.
 TYPES

SMOOTH ROUGH
ENDOPLASMIC ENDOPLASMIC
RETICULLUM RETICULUM
Rough ER
 The surface of the RER is studded with ribosome, giving it
a rough appearance.
 It mainly consists of cisternae.

 The membrane of the RER forms large double membrane

sheets
 Which is located near and continuous with the outer layer of
the nuclear envelope.
 RER is very imp. in the synthesis and packaging of
proteins e:g, Russell’s bodies of plasma, nissel’s granules of
nerve cell
 Binding site of the ribosome on the RER is the translocon .
 The ribosomes bound to the RER at any one time are not a
stable part of this organelles structure
 Because ribosomes are constantly being bound and
released from the membranes.
 Ribosomes only binds to the RER once a specific protein-
nucleic acid complex forms in the cytosol.
 This special complex forms when a free ribosome begins
translating the mRNA of a protein destined for the
secretory pathway.
 The first 5-30 amino acid polymerized encode a single
peptide, a molecular message that is recognized and bound
by a single recognition particle (SRP).
 The ribosomes that become attached to the endoplasmic
reticulum synthesize all trans membrane proteins.
 Most secreted proteins that are stored in the Golgi
apparatus, lysosomes, and endosomes.
Protein Transport
 As proteins are formed in the endoplasmic reticulum, they
are transported through the tubules toward proteins of the
SER that lie nearest to Golgi apparatus.
 At this point, small transport vesicles composed of small
envelopes of smooth ER continually break away and
diffuse to the deepest layer of Golgi apparatus.
 Inside this vesicles are the synthesized proteins and other
product from the ER present.
 Second method of transport out of the endoplasmic
reticulum involves areas called membrane contact sites.

 Where membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum and other

organelles are held together , allowing the transfer of lipid
and other small molecules.
 FUNCTION OF RER-
 Surface for Ribosome- The RER provides space and
ribophorins for the attachment of ribosomes to itself.
 Surface for protein synthesis-
 Formation of Glycoprotein- Linking of sugars to for
glycoprotein starts in the RER and is completed in Golgi
complex.
 Synthesis of precursors- The RER produce enzyme
precursors for the formation of lysosomes by Golgi
Complex.
 Smooth ER formation- The RER gives rise to the
smooth ER by loss of ribosomes.
 Smooth ER
 Smooth ER is an arrangement of tubules,vesicles and
sacs.
 The size and structure of the SER varies between the
cells.
 The SER can change within a cells lifetime to allow the
cell to adapt to changes in its function and
requirements.
 There are no ribosome’s attached to the membrane
surface.
 The SER is connected to the nuclear envelope
 The network of the SER allows there to be enough
surface area for the action or storage of key enzymes
or the products of the enzymes.

 The SER is less stable.

 The SER is characteristic of cells in which synthesis

of non-protein substances takes place.
FUNCTION OF SER
 The smooth endoplasmic reticulum lacks ribosomes
and functions
in lipid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism,
and detoxification and is especially abundant in
mammalian liver and gonad cells.
 It also synthesizes phospholipids. Cells which secrete
these products, such as those in the testes, ovaries, and
skin oil glands have a great deal of smooth
endoplasmic reticulum.
 Detoxification-The SER brings about detoxification in the
liver , i.e., converts harmful materials(drugs, poisons) into
harmless ones for excretion by the cell.
 Formation of organelles- The SER produces Golgi
apparatus , lysosomes and vacuoles.
 It also carries out the attachment of receptors on cell
membrane proteins and steroid metabolism.
 In muscle cells, it regulates calcium ion concentration
 The smooth endoplasmic reticulum also contains the
enzyme glucose-6-phosphatase, which converts glucose-6-
phosphate to glucose, a step in gluconeogenesis.
SR
 The sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) is smooth ER found
in smooth and striated muscle.
 The only structural difference between this organelle and
the smooth endoplasmic reticulum is the medley of
proteins they have, both bound to their membranes and
drifting within the confines of their lumens. This
fundamental difference is indicative of their functions.
 The endoplasmic reticulum synthesizes molecules, while
the sarcoplasmic reticulum stores and pumps calcium
ions.
 The sarcoplasmic reticulum contains large stores of
calcium, which it sequesters and then releases when the
muscle cell is stimulated.
 It plays a major role in excitation-contraction coupling in
muscles cells.