Question

Differentiate between the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) and smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER).

Answer 1

Hint: Rough endoplasmic reticulum is playing an important role in the synthesis of protein. The main difference between the rough endoplasmic reticulum and smooth endoplasmic reticulum is that RER consists of ribosomes that are responsible for its rough nature and synthesis of protein.

Complete answer:
Differences between RER and SER are as follows:

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER)	Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (SER)
It plays a central role in protein synthesis.	It plays an important role in lipid synthesis.
It is structurally more stable.	It is structurally less stable.
This is formed of sac-like structures called cisternae.	This is formed of vesicles and tubules.
It is located in the central cytoplasm, connected to the nuclear membrane.	It is peripheral, connected to the plasmalemma.
Ribophorin proteins present at the junction between ribosomes and RER	Ribophorin protein is absent.
They are generally found in pancreatic cells.	They are generally found in adipose cells.

Additional Information: -Ribosomes are the protein factory of the cell hence RER functions for protein synthesis.
-Retinal cells, nerve cells, muscles, plasmodesmata (desmotubules) all consist of SER.
-SER functions for the formation of microbodies.
-RER, SER together with Golgi bodies, lysosomes, and vacuoles (in plants) form the endomembrane system.
-The term endoplasmic reticulum was given by Porter and was discovered by Porter and Thomson.
-Cytoplasm around Golgi bodies is called a zone of exclusion as it’s devoid of any organelle.
-SER is responsible for the formation and breakdown of glucose.

Note: -Spherosomes and glyoxysomes are the two main microbodies formed by SER.
-In the smooth endoplasmic reticulum, there is a specialized type of structure known as sarcoplasmic reticulum which regulates the calcium ion concentration in striated muscle cells.