DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM AND RIBOSOMES

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ypestis
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DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM AND RIBOSOMES

Post by ypestis »

I know for a fact that they both produce proteins. So, what's the difference between them if they just both make proteins?
koneill18
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Re: DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM AND RIBOSOMES

Post by koneill18 »

Hello,

This is a good question. The endoplasmic reticulum comes in two forms: smooth and rough. The rough endoplasmic reticulum appears bumpy under the microscope because it has ribosomes attached to it. The ribosomes are in charge of assembling amino acids to build proteins. These proteins are then transferred to the endoplasmic reticulum for further processing. This processing usually involves folding the proteins into their correct three dimensional conformation. Then, the endoplasmic reticulum can transport the proteins to the areas of the cell where they're needed or to the golgi apparatus for further processing. So basically, the ribosomes do most of the work in assembling the proteins and then the endoplasmic reticulum modifies them as necessary and transports them wherever they need to go.

The smooth endoplasmic reticulum, on the other hand, doesn't produce proteins. It's in charge of producing other molecules that the cell needs like fats and the building blocks of carbohydrates. It can also do other things like break down toxins or release calcium to trigger muscle contractions.

I hope this helps!
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