Questions and Answers
What is the function of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum?
Make cellular products like hormones and lipids which form all the membranes of organisms.
Which cells are the smooth endoplasmic reticulum located in?
Eukaryotic plant and animal cells.
Where is the smooth endoplasmic reticulum located?
Attached to the rough endoplasmic reticulum, near the nucleus and the Golgi apparatus.
What does the smooth endoplasmic reticulum look like?
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What are the differences between the rough ER and the smooth ER?
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Who discovered the smooth endoplasmic reticulum?
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When was the smooth endoplasmic reticulum discovered?
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List other functions of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum.
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What does the smooth endoplasmic reticulum metabolize?
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What types of reactions do enzymes from the smooth endoplasmic reticulum catalyze?
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Describe the structure of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum.
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Study Notes
Function
- Produces cellular products such as hormones and lipids, essential for forming cellular membranes.
Cell Types
- Found in eukaryotic cells, specifically in both plant and animal cells.
Location
- Located adjacent to the rough endoplasmic reticulum, close to the nucleus and Golgi apparatus.
Appearance
- Appears as a ribosome-free network, functioning like a factory for lipid synthesis.
Differences from Rough ER
- Lacks ribosomes, contrasting with rough ER, which is involved in protein assembly.
Discovery
- Discovered by Keith R. Porter, Albert Claude, Brody Meskers, and Ernest F. Fullam in 1945.
Other Functions
- In addition to lipid production, plays a role in glucose synthesis and material transport within the cell.
Metabolism
- Metabolizes natural toxins and ingested substances to detoxify the cell.
Enzymatic Reactions
- Enzymes in the smooth ER catalyze the synthesis of cholesterol, phospholipids, and steroid hormones.
Structure
- Comprises a system of membranes called cisternae, characterized by the absence of ribosomes on its surface.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the smooth endoplasmic reticulum with this quiz! Explore its functions, locations, and the types of cells that contain it. Perfect for students of biology looking to solidify their understanding of cellular structures.