What is the Difference Between Granular and Agranular Endoplasmic Reticulum?

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is an important organelle in eukaryotic cells that plays a crucial role in synthesis, folding, modification, and transport of proteins. It is also involved in calcium storage, carbohydrate metabolism, and lipid synthesis and metabolism. The ER can be classified into two types based on the presence or absence of ribosomes: granular and agranular endoplasmic reticulum.

Granular Endoplasmic Reticulum:

• Has ribosomes attached to its surface.
• Appears rough due to the presence of ribosomes.
• Participates in protein synthesis, folding, quality control, and protein sorting.

Agranular Endoplasmic Reticulum:

• Lacks ribosomes on its surface.
• Has a smooth appearance.
• Carries out the synthesis of various lipids, steroid hormones, and other cellular components.
• Involved in carbohydrate metabolism and storing and releasing calcium ions in the cell.

In summary, the main difference between granular and agranular endoplasmic reticulum lies in the presence of ribosomes on the surface of the granular ER, which is involved in protein synthesis and related processes, while the agranular ER is involved in lipid synthesis and other cellular functions.

Comparative Table: Granular vs Agranular Endoplasmic Reticulum

The main difference between granular and agranular endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lies in the presence or absence of ribosomes on their surfaces. Here is a table summarizing their differences:

Granular ER has ribosomes attached to its surface, which are responsible for protein synthesis. On the other hand, agranular ER lacks ribosomes and is involved in various functions such as lipid synthesis, steroid hormone production, carbohydrate metabolism, and calcium ion storage and release.