Topic 3A.3 Eukaryotic Cells II

endoplasmic reticulum (ER)

a 3D network of membrane-bound cavities in the cytoplasm that links to the nuclear membrane and makes up a large part of the cellular transport system as well as playing an important role in the synthesis of many different chemical substances

rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER)

endoplasmic reticulum that is covered in 80S ribosomes and which is involved in the production and transport of proteins

exocytosis

the movement of large molecules out of cells by the fusing of a vesicle containing the molecules with the surface cell membrane; the process requires ATP

smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER)

a smooth tubular structure similar to RER, but without the ribosomes, which is involved in the synthesis and transport of steroids and lipids in the cell

Golgi apparatus

stacks of membranes that modify proteins made elsewhere in the cell and package them into vesicles for transport, and also produce materials for plant cell walls and insect cuticles