The key difference between rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lies in its appearance and functions. Smooth ER lacks ribosomes on its surface, while rough ER is studded with ribosomes. Smooth ER is involved in lipid synthesis, detoxification, and calcium storage, while rough ER is responsible for protein synthesis and sorting.
What is Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum?
The rough endoplasmic reticulum is a cellular organelle involved in protein synthesis and modification, characterized by its studded appearance due to ribosomes attached to its surface.
It is a type of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) characterized by its rough appearance due to the presence of ribosomes on its outer surface. These ribosomes are responsible for protein synthesis, making the RER a vital component in the cell’s protein production machinery.
What is Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum?
Smooth endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a membranous organelle involved in lipid synthesis, detoxification, and calcium storage in eukaryotic cells.
It is a type of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) that lacks ribosomes on its cytoplasmic surface, giving it a smooth appearance under the microscope.
The smooth endoplasmic reticulum plays a crucial role in different cellular processes, including lipid metabolism, detoxification, and calcium storage.
Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum vs Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum
The key difference between smooth endoplasmic reticulum and rough endoplasmic reticulum is given below:
| Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER) | Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (SER) | |
| Structure | Studded with ribosomes on its surface. | Lacks ribosomes on its surface. |
| Appearance | Appears rough due to ribosomes. | Appears smooth. |
| Function | Protein synthesis and modification. | The membrane is rich in enzymes and lipids. |
| Protein Production | Synthesizes proteins for export. | Produces proteins for internal use. |
| Membrane Proteins | Synthesizes integral membrane proteins. | Does not synthesize integral membrane proteins. |
| Membrane Composition | Involved in the detoxification of drugs and toxins. | The membrane is rich in phospholipids. |
| Calcium Ion Regulation | Not involved in calcium ion regulation | Involved in calcium ion regulation |
| Detoxification | Not involved in detoxification. | Involved in the detoxification of drugs and toxins. |
| Location | Found throughout the cytoplasm. | Found near the nucleus and throughout the cytoplasm. |