Question

What is the endoplasmic reticulum?

Answer 1

The Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) is an organelle in the cell that functions as a packaging system. It works with the Golgi apparatus, ribosomes, RNA, mRNA, and tRNA.

What do these all have in common? Protein .

Transcription creates mRNA. Translation occurs inside the ribosome and involves the binding of tRNA to the mRNA and proteins are synthesized. (really really really brief summary just to get the picture)

So the ER is split into two types:

• Rough ER
• Smooth ER

Very brief summary of the two types:

Rough ER: - synthesis and packaging of proteins:

• Synthesis because of the Ribosomes on the structure
• Packaging because when a protein is synthesized it pinches off as a vesicle and travels to the Golgi body.

Smooth ER: - storage organelle, key in creation of steroids, stores ions that cell may need later.

Helpful Video:

START AT 4:41 FOR ER

Images to help visualize: