If the function of your nucleus is to work as your cell brain, think of your endoplasmic reticulum (also known as your ER as the system that works to manufacture and package things. This is perhaps the most straightforward endoplasmic reticulum definition that you are going to come across.
However, considering how important your ER ultimately is to the overall functionality of your body, it certainly makes sense to want to explore this subject in greater detail. As you are going to discover, when it comes to a definition of endoplasmic reticulum, there are several fascinating facets to this subject that you will want to keep in mind.
1. Your Nucleus Definitely Relies On Your ER
As you may have guessed from the definition offered above, your nucleus quite frankly needs your endoplasmic reticulum. It is important to remember that the relationships shared throughout your body are numerous, complex, and often multifaceted. As mentioned before, your ER functions as the manufacturing/packaging system. You can probably figure out on your own that this is a pretty vital function.
2. Your ER Works Closely With A Number Of Things
When you keep in mind that your ER works as a packaging and manufacturing system, it becomes easier to appreciate the many relationships your ER is going to share with other elements of your body. This includes your Golgi apparatus, your ribosomes, your mRNA, and your tRNA.
3. Think Of The Whole Thing Like A Network
There are a lot of different ways that you can think about your endoplasmic reticulum. Ultimately, the easiest way to think about all of this is to look at your ER as a network. This network of membranes can be found throughout your cell, and you’re going to want to also be aware of the distinctive connections all of this will have to your nucleus.
4. The Membranes Are Not All Exactly The Same
It is important to note that these membranes are going to differ from one cell to the next. Furthermore, you will want to also note that the function of the cell will serve to determine both the size and structure of your ER.
5. A Few Examples Of Cells That Do Not Have ER Structures
Obviously, at this point, you’re going to want to consider some potential examples. To be certain, you are going to come across cells that do not have any sort of ER system to offer. Some examples of this would include your prokaryotes or your red blood cells.
6. What About Some Actual Examples Of ER Structures?
It stands to reason that you want to learn some more about actual examples of ER structures in your body. To that end, you are going to want to learn a little bit more about such structures as your pancreas or your liver. These are cells that work constantly to synthesize and release so many proteins, the need for an ER structure is pretty much essential.
7. The Two Basic Types Of ER
There are two basic types of endoplasmic reticulum that you are going to want to be aware of. The first one is known as smooth ER. The second one is known as rough ER. That sounds pretty straightforward, and really, it doesn’t get too much more complicated than that. Both of these types of ER are going to showcase the same kind of membranes. Where they are going to differ concerns the shapes. The difference in shape between the rough ER and the smooth ER is pretty substantial. A sheet or disk of bumpy-like membranes is perhaps the best way to categorize the rough ER. With the smooth ER, you will notice a shape which very closely resembles a group of tubes. You will also find ribosomes attached to the rough ER, which is one of the reasons why it has that name to begin with.
8. Double Membranes
Sacs called cisternae are created through the double membranes of the smooth ER and rough ER. Protein molecules go through synthetization and collection in your cisternal space (lumen. Vesicles are then created, once enough protein has been synthesized. These vesicles generally make their way to your Golgi apparatus to be packaged and distributed with extra proteins.
9. A Note About Smooth ER
There is a little bit more to smooth ER that you will want to keep in mind. Acting as storage organelle, lipids and steroids rely on your smooth ER to a highly significant degree. Also known as SER, smooth ER is more readily found in the cells within your body that release oils.
10. A Note About Rough ER
Not surprisingly, rough ER goes by the name RER. With RER, you want to be aware of something that is playing a profoundly significant role in not only the synthesis of your proteins, but the packaging of those proteins, too.