I. THE EUKARYOTIC CELL

A. COMPOSITION AND FUNCTIONS OF EUKARYOTIC CELLULAR STRUCTURES

3. The Endomembrane System

b. The Endoplasmic Reticulum

Fundamental Statements for this Learning Object:

1. 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.
2. ER with ribosomes attached is called rough endoplasmic reticulum and is involved in protein synthesis, production of new membrane, modification of newly formed proteins, and transport of these proteins and membrane to other locations within the cell.
3. ER without ribosomes is called smooth endoplasmic reticulum and contains enzymes for lipid biosynthesis, especially the synthesis of phospholipids and steroids. The smooth endoplasmic reticulum forms transition vesicles to transfer molecules produced in the rough ER to the Golgi complex.

 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES FOR THIS SECTION

The cell is the basic unit of life. Based on the organization of their cellular structures, all living cells can be divided into two groups: prokaryotic and eukaryotic (also spelled procaryotic and eucaryotic). Animals, plants, fungi, protozoans, and algae all possess eukaryotic cell types. Only bacteria have prokaryotic cell types.

Eukaryotic cells are generally much larger and more complex than prokaryotic. Because of their larger size, they require a variety of specialized internal membrane-bound organelles to carry out metabolism, provide energy, and transport chemicals throughout the cell.

Eukaryotic cells possess what is referred to as an internal membrane system or endomembrane system that compartmentalizes the cell for various different but interrelated cellular functions. Some of these internal membrane-bound organelles, such as the nucleus and the endoplasmic reticulum, have direct connections to one another. Other organelles, such as the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi complex transport materials to other organelles in vesicles. A vesicle buds off of one organelle and transports materials when it fuses with another membrane.

We will now look at the endoplasmic reticulum of eukaryotic cells.

The Endoplasmic Reticulum (def) Fig. 30A, Fig. 30B, Fig. 34, and Fig. 35. 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 (see Fig. 33). The ER functions to:

1) provide a surface area for protein and lipid synthesis;

2) form a pathway for transporting molecules within the cell; and

3) provide a storage area for molecules the cell has synthesized.

The endoplasmic reticulum connects to the pores of the nuclear envelope. The pores in the nuclear membrane allow ribosomal subunits and mRNA transcribed off genes in the DNA to leave the nucleus, enter the cytoplasm, and participate in protein synthesis.

There are two distinct regions of the ER: the rough ER and the smooth ER.

1. Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum

ER with ribosomes attached is called rough endoplasmic reticulum Fig. 33, Fig. 34, and Fig. 35) and is involved in protein synthesis, production of new membrane, modification of newly formed proteins, and transport of these proteins and membrane to other locations within the cell.

Ribosomal subunits and mRNA molecules transcribed off genes in the DNA leave the nucleus through pores in the nuclear membrane, enter the cytoplasm, and participate in protein synthesis. Ribosomes attached to mRNA molecules coding for proteins to be secreted from the cell or enter lysosomes attach to receptors on the ER. The ribosomes are tightly attached to the rough ER and contain a tunnel that connects to a pore in the ER called a translocon. The proteins that are synthesized by the ribosomes can then pass through the translocon and enter the lumen of the ER where they can be transported to other locations within the ER. Proteins secreted from the cell by exocytosis or destined for lysosomes are synthesized by the ribosomes on the surface of the rough ER. Proteins for use within the eukaryotic cell or intended for organelles such as mitochondria, chloroplasts, and peroxisomes are synthesized by mRNA molecules attached to ribosomes in the cytoplasm.

2. Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum

ER without ribosomes is called smooth endoplasmic reticulum (see Fig. 33 and Fig. 36) and contains enzymes for lipid biosynthesis, especially the synthesis of phospholipids and steroids. The smooth endoplasmic reticulum forms transition vesicles to transfer molecules produced in the rough ER to the Golgi complex. (see Fig. 33).

html5 animation showing the endomembrane system. by Gary E. Kaiser, Ph.D. Professor of Microbiology, The Community College of Baltimore County, Catonsville Campus This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Based on a work The Grapes of Staph at https://cwoer.ccbcmd.edu/science/microbiology/index_gos.html. Last updated: August, 2019 Please send comments and inquiries to Dr. Gary Kaiser

 

Concept map for Eukaryotic Cell Structure

 

• QUIZ YOURSELF ON THIS SECTION

Gary E. Kaiser, Ph.D.
Professor of Microbiology
The Community College of Baltimore County, Catonsville Campus
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Based on a work The Grapes of Staph at https://cwoer.ccbcmd.edu/science/microbiology/index_gos.html.