{"id":323,"date":"2016-09-20T18:01:36","date_gmt":"2016-09-20T18:01:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.hcfl.edu\/bio1\/chapter\/endoplasmic-reticulum-2\/"},"modified":"2025-08-29T17:45:19","modified_gmt":"2025-08-29T17:45:19","slug":"endoplasmic-reticulum-2","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.hcfl.edu\/bio1\/chapter\/endoplasmic-reticulum-2\/","title":{"raw":"The Endoplasmic Reticulum","rendered":"The Endoplasmic Reticulum"},"content":{"raw":"The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) <\/strong>(see Figure 1<\/strong>) is a series of interconnected membranous tubules that collectively modify proteins and synthesize lipids. However, these two functions are performed in separate areas of the endoplasmic reticulum: the rough endoplasmic reticulum and the smooth endoplasmic reticulum, respectively.\n\nThere is a hollow portion inside ER tubules that is called the lumen. The membrane of the ER, which is a phospholipid bilayer embedded with proteins, is continuous with the nuclear envelope.\n\nThe rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) <\/strong>is so named because the ribosomes attached to its cytoplasmic surface give it a studded appearance when viewed through an electron microscope.\u00a0The ribosomes synthesize proteins while attached to the ER, resulting in transfer of their newly synthesized proteins into the lumen of the RER where they undergo modifications such as folding or addition of sugars. The RER also makes phospholipids for cell membranes.\n\nIf the phospholipids or modified proteins are not destined to stay in the RER, they will be packaged within vesicles and transported from the RER by budding from the membrane (Figure 1<\/strong>). Since the RER is engaged in modifying proteins that will be secreted from the cell, it is abundant in cells that secrete proteins, such as the liver.\n\nThe smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) <\/strong>is continuous with the RER but has few or no ribosomes on its cytoplasmic surface (see Figure 1<\/strong>). The SER\u2019s functions include synthesis of carbohydrates, lipids (including phospholipids), and steroid hormones; detoxification of medications and poisons; alcohol metabolism; and storage of calcium ions.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_65\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"248\"]\"figure_03_13\" Figure 1 The endomembrane system works to modify, package, and transport lipids and proteins. (credit: modification of work by Magnus Manske)[\/caption]\n

References<\/h1>\nUnless otherwise noted, images on this page are licensed under CC-BY 4.0<\/a>\u00a0by\u00a0OpenStax<\/a>.\n\nText adapted from: OpenStax<\/span>, Concepts of Biology. OpenStax CNX. May 18, 2016 http:\/\/cnx.org\/contents\/b3c1e1d2-839c-42b0-a314-e119a8aafbdd@9.10","rendered":"

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) <\/strong>(see Figure 1<\/strong>) is a series of interconnected membranous tubules that collectively modify proteins and synthesize lipids. However, these two functions are performed in separate areas of the endoplasmic reticulum: the rough endoplasmic reticulum and the smooth endoplasmic reticulum, respectively.<\/p>\n

There is a hollow portion inside ER tubules that is called the lumen. The membrane of the ER, which is a phospholipid bilayer embedded with proteins, is continuous with the nuclear envelope.<\/p>\n

The rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) <\/strong>is so named because the ribosomes attached to its cytoplasmic surface give it a studded appearance when viewed through an electron microscope.\u00a0The ribosomes synthesize proteins while attached to the ER, resulting in transfer of their newly synthesized proteins into the lumen of the RER where they undergo modifications such as folding or addition of sugars. The RER also makes phospholipids for cell membranes.<\/p>\n

If the phospholipids or modified proteins are not destined to stay in the RER, they will be packaged within vesicles and transported from the RER by budding from the membrane (Figure 1<\/strong>). Since the RER is engaged in modifying proteins that will be secreted from the cell, it is abundant in cells that secrete proteins, such as the liver.<\/p>\n

The smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) <\/strong>is continuous with the RER but has few or no ribosomes on its cytoplasmic surface (see Figure 1<\/strong>). The SER\u2019s functions include synthesis of carbohydrates, lipids (including phospholipids), and steroid hormones; detoxification of medications and poisons; alcohol metabolism; and storage of calcium ions.<\/p>\n

\"figure_03_13\"
Figure 1 The endomembrane system works to modify, package, and transport lipids and proteins. (credit: modification of work by Magnus Manske)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

References<\/h1>\n

Unless otherwise noted, images on this page are licensed under CC-BY 4.0<\/a>\u00a0by\u00a0OpenStax<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Text adapted from: OpenStax<\/span>, Concepts of Biology. OpenStax CNX. May 18, 2016 http:\/\/cnx.org\/contents\/b3c1e1d2-839c-42b0-a314-e119a8aafbdd@9.10<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":130,"menu_order":9,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":["lisa-bartee-do7vbnbexe","christine-anderson-t15c7lrfew"],"pb_section_license":"cc-by"},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[67,66],"license":[53],"class_list":["post-323","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry","contributor-christine-anderson-t15c7lrfew","contributor-lisa-bartee-do7vbnbexe","license-cc-by"],"part":223,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.hcfl.edu\/bio1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/323","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.hcfl.edu\/bio1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.hcfl.edu\/bio1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.hcfl.edu\/bio1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/130"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.hcfl.edu\/bio1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/323\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":324,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.hcfl.edu\/bio1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/323\/revisions\/324"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.hcfl.edu\/bio1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/223"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.hcfl.edu\/bio1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/323\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.hcfl.edu\/bio1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=323"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.hcfl.edu\/bio1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=323"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.hcfl.edu\/bio1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=323"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.hcfl.edu\/bio1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=323"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}