What is the function of RER (rough endoplasmic reticulum) and SER (smooth endoplasmic reticulum)?

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Detailed Solution

RER makes and processes proteins, while SER makes lipids, detoxifies chemicals, and stores calcium. The rough ER has ribosomes on its surface and mainly handles protein synthesis, folding, and first steps of modification (like adding sugars). The smooth ER lacks ribosomes and mainly does lipid synthesis (fats, phospholipids, steroids), detoxification (especially in liver cells), and calcium storage (especially in muscle cells).

Feature	Rough ER (RER)	Smooth ER (SER)
Main role	Protein synthesis & processing	Lipid synthesis & detoxification
Surface	Studded with ribosomes	No ribosomes
Products	Membrane, secretory, and lysosomal proteins	Phospholipids, cholesterol, steroid hormones
Special functions	Folding, glycosylation; sends proteins to Golgi	Drug detox (cytochrome P450), glycogen metabolism; Ca²⁺ storage
Where abundant	Pancreas, plasma cells	Liver, adrenal cortex, muscle (sarcoplasmic reticulum)