Learning Study Guide – CB Lecture 17 Endoplasmic Reticulum

A set of vocabulary flashcards focusing on key concepts related to the structure and function of the endoplasmic reticulum, its various roles in cellular metabolism, and its significance in health and disease.

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

A membrane-bound network continuous with the outer nuclear membrane, involved in the synthesis and transport of macromolecules.

Rough ER (RER)

Type of ER that is studded with ribosomes, primarily involved in protein synthesis and processing.

Smooth ER (SER)

Type of ER that lacks ribosomes, primarily involved in lipid metabolism and detoxification.

N-linked glycosylation

The addition of oligosaccharides to asparagine residues during protein processing.

COP II vesicles

Transport vesicles that bud off from the RER to deliver cargo to the Golgi apparatus.

Cytochrome P450 enzymes

A family of enzymes housed in the Smooth ER that catalyze oxidation of drugs and toxins.

Glucose-6-phosphatase

An enzyme located in the Smooth ER that is critical for gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis.

Sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR)

A specialized type of Smooth ER in muscle cells that stores intracellular calcium.

Excitation-contraction coupling

The physiological process where an electrical signal triggers muscle contraction, involving calcium storage and signaling.

ER stress / UPR activation

A condition caused by the accumulation of misfolded proteins, leading to inflammation and apoptosis.

Insulin resistance

A metabolic condition where cells fail to respond to insulin properly, often linked to lipid overload impairing ER function.

Congenital glycosylation defects

Inherited disorders resulting from mutations in ER enzymes that affect glycosylation processes.