BRAINCAKERough ER
The rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) is a system of flattened, membrane-bound sacs called cisternae, whose outer surface is covered with ribosomes. This gives it its 'rough' appearance in electron micrographs. The RER membranes are continuous with the outer membrane of the nuclear envelope, and the fluid-filled space inside the sacs is the lumen.
Function
The RER makes and transports proteins, especially those that will be:
• secreted from the cell (such as digestive enzymes, hormones and antibodies)
• inserted into the cell surface membrane or other membranes
• sent to lysosomes
Sign in free to see the rest of this lesson, the R.E.C.I.P.E. recall steps and the quiz
BrainCake is free. Make an account in seconds and pick up where this page stops.
Key terms in this lesson
- vesicle
- A small, membrane-bound sac used to transport or store materials within a cell, or to move them to or from the cell surface membrane.
More in Eukaryotic Cells
All 30 lessons in Eukaryotic Cells · All Edexcel AS-level Biology topics