The Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER) is an important part of eukaryotic cells, which are the type of cells that make up plants and animals. The RER is known for helping make and process proteins, especially those that will be released outside the cell. It looks "rough" because of tiny structures called ribosomes on its surface. These ribosomes are not found on the Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (SER), which works with fats and detoxifying substances.
Translating mRNA: The RER is crucial for turning messenger RNA (mRNA) into proteins. When ribosomes on the RER read the mRNA, the new protein chain goes into the inside of the RER for more changes.
Did You Know?: About 80% of proteins meant to be secreted are made on the RER. This shows how important the RER is for the cell's protein-making power.
After proteins enter the inside of the RER, they go through important changes called post-translational modifications. Here are a couple of these changes:
Glycosylation: This is when sugar molecules are added to proteins. This process helps proteins fold correctly, stay stable, and work as they should. About 50% of the proteins that are made in the RER go through glycosylation, which helps decide where they go and what they do in the cell.
Folding and Quality Check: The RER has special helper proteins that make sure new proteins are folded correctly. If proteins are not folded right, they're usually marked for destruction. Research shows that about 30% of new proteins don’t become functional and are removed in a process called ER-associated degradation (ERAD).
Once proteins are correctly folded and changed, they get packaged in little bubbles called vesicles and are sent from the RER to the Golgi apparatus. This is another important step for protein secretion. Here’s how it works:
Vesicle Formation: Special bubbles form and pinch off from the RER. These bubbles carry the proteins—and sometimes fats—so they can be processed further. The bubbles help protect proteins while they're being moved.
Fun Fact: On average, a cell can make about 10 million secretory protein molecules every hour! This shows just how effective the transportation system from the RER is.
The secretory pathway is all about how proteins are sent out of the cell. The RER is key to this pathway:
Starting Point: All proteins that leave the cell begin their journey in the RER. This includes important proteins like hormones, enzymes, and antibodies that help the body function properly.
Working with the Golgi: When proteins reach the Golgi apparatus, they are processed and sorted. They are then packaged and sent outside the cell. About 90% of the proteins meant to be secreted pass through the Golgi after leaving the RER.
The Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum is essential for cells to produce and secrete proteins. It plays a key role in making proteins, changing them after they’re made, and working together with the Golgi apparatus. Understanding how the RER functions is important for knowing how cells work and how living things function. Since 80% of secretory proteins are made in the RER and many important changes happen there, the RER really is the backbone of protein secretion in cells.
The Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER) is an important part of eukaryotic cells, which are the type of cells that make up plants and animals. The RER is known for helping make and process proteins, especially those that will be released outside the cell. It looks "rough" because of tiny structures called ribosomes on its surface. These ribosomes are not found on the Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (SER), which works with fats and detoxifying substances.
Translating mRNA: The RER is crucial for turning messenger RNA (mRNA) into proteins. When ribosomes on the RER read the mRNA, the new protein chain goes into the inside of the RER for more changes.
Did You Know?: About 80% of proteins meant to be secreted are made on the RER. This shows how important the RER is for the cell's protein-making power.
After proteins enter the inside of the RER, they go through important changes called post-translational modifications. Here are a couple of these changes:
Glycosylation: This is when sugar molecules are added to proteins. This process helps proteins fold correctly, stay stable, and work as they should. About 50% of the proteins that are made in the RER go through glycosylation, which helps decide where they go and what they do in the cell.
Folding and Quality Check: The RER has special helper proteins that make sure new proteins are folded correctly. If proteins are not folded right, they're usually marked for destruction. Research shows that about 30% of new proteins don’t become functional and are removed in a process called ER-associated degradation (ERAD).
Once proteins are correctly folded and changed, they get packaged in little bubbles called vesicles and are sent from the RER to the Golgi apparatus. This is another important step for protein secretion. Here’s how it works:
Vesicle Formation: Special bubbles form and pinch off from the RER. These bubbles carry the proteins—and sometimes fats—so they can be processed further. The bubbles help protect proteins while they're being moved.
Fun Fact: On average, a cell can make about 10 million secretory protein molecules every hour! This shows just how effective the transportation system from the RER is.
The secretory pathway is all about how proteins are sent out of the cell. The RER is key to this pathway:
Starting Point: All proteins that leave the cell begin their journey in the RER. This includes important proteins like hormones, enzymes, and antibodies that help the body function properly.
Working with the Golgi: When proteins reach the Golgi apparatus, they are processed and sorted. They are then packaged and sent outside the cell. About 90% of the proteins meant to be secreted pass through the Golgi after leaving the RER.
The Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum is essential for cells to produce and secrete proteins. It plays a key role in making proteins, changing them after they’re made, and working together with the Golgi apparatus. Understanding how the RER functions is important for knowing how cells work and how living things function. Since 80% of secretory proteins are made in the RER and many important changes happen there, the RER really is the backbone of protein secretion in cells.