Smooth and Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum

@EndoPRetic4Life

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum:

Functions:

1. Houses ribosomes on the outside of the organelle

-Without the Rough ER, Ribosomes would be floating around in the cell

2. Chemically modifies the proteins made by ribosomes

-Proteins are inserted from the ribosomes into the Rough ER

-They are then chemically enhanced

3. Sends chemically enhanced proteins to specialized locations within the cell

-Chemically enhanced proteins are sent to specialized locations such as outside the cell, and to lysosomes

-Sent through vesicles

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum:

Functions:

1. Synthesize membrane lipids

-By means of the enzymes stored in these smooth membranes

2. Detoxify drugs

-Exists mostly in liver cells where it gets rid of harmful drugs

3. Packages proteins for transport

4. Releases calcium

5. Produces testosterone and estrogen in reproductive cells

Location

The Endoplasmic Reticulum is found in both plant and animal cells, but only in those that are eukaryotic.