The Endoplasmic Reticulum

The endoplasmic reticulum is an intracytoplasmic structure involving the entire cytoplasmic volume. If the mitochondria still conceal many of their secrets from the morphologist and biochemist, the intracytoplasmic system—composed of membranes, vesicles, and fine particles and called either endoplasmic reticulum, ergastoplasm, or cytomembranes—remains an intricate web of mysteries [216-218]. 

The hyaloplasm has been arbitrarily divided into a peripheral zone called the ectoplasm and a more central zone called the endoplasm. But before we describe the appearance of the endoplasmic reticulum in fixed preparations, remember that the cytoplasm is not inert. The cytoplasm of living cells has the consistency of a gelatinous liquid, and its viscosity changes depending upon the site or the physiological state. These changes in viscosity are accompanied by, or 

Although there is no disagreement concerning the appearance of the endoplasmic reticulum on thin section, the tridimensional reconstruction of this planar structure is debated. The controversy is easier to understand if the proposed roles of the endoplasmic reticulum in biology are kept in mind. Among these hypothetical roles are (1) the endoplasmic reticulum provides compartments within the cytoplasm (2) it separates multiple-enzyme systems or separates the enzyme from its substrate (3) it provides a support for enzymes and substrates, thereby facilitating reaction and (4) it furnishes an intracellular circulatory system in connection with the exterior, which promotes rapid diffu- 

When the role of the endoplasmic reticulum is taken into account, the importance of its tridimensional structure becomes obvious. To fulfill the first three of these physiological roles, a system of individual tubules or vesicles, coated or not with widely interconnected granules may be sufficient. But if the endoplasmic reticulum is also to function as an intracellular circulatory system, it should probably constitute a tridimensional network of canaliculi extending throughout the entire volume of the cytoplasm from the cell membrane to the nuclear membrane. 

The arguments favoring the second system are not completely convincing. They take two forms (1) the fact that in the thin-spread culture cells the endoplasmic reticulum appears as a lacework or continuous reticular system, and (2) the occasional observation in ultrathin sections of connections between the membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum and the nuclear or cell membrane. Although many accept the connections between the endoplasmic reticulum and the nuclear membrane, the connection between the endoplasmic reticulum and the cell membranes remains doubtful probably because it is difficult to obtain sections in which the endoplasmic reticulum and the cell membrane are in the proper planar relationship to provide a picture that can be interpreted irrefutably. 

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CH2SH + 1/2 O2 -CH2-S-S-CH2 + H2O This reaction requires an oxidative environment, and such disulfide bridges are usually not found in intracellular proteins, which spend their lifetime in an essentially reductive environment. Disulfide bridges do, however, occur quite frequently among extracellular proteins that are secreted from cells, and in eucaryotes, formation of these bridges occurs within the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum, the first compartment of the secretory pathway. 

RBP is synthesized in the hepatocytes, where it picks up one molecule of retinol in the endoplasmic reticulum. Both its synthesis and its secretion from the hepatocytes to the plasma are regulated by retinol. In plasma, the... 

Brefeldin A, an antiviral agent which impedes protein transport from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi complex, was synthesized as the racemate using a number of interesting diastereoselective reactions. 

Endoplasmic reticulum Flattened sacs, tubes, and sheets of internal The endoplasmic reticulum is a labyrinthine... 

FIGURE 23.8 Glu cose-6-phosphatase is localized in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Conversion of glucose-6-phosphate to glucose occurs during transport into the ER. 

In the endoplasmic reticulum of eukaryotic cells, the oxidation of the terminal carbon of a normal fatty acid—a process termed ch-oxidation—can lead to the synthesis of small amounts of dicarboxylic acids (Figure 24.27). Cytochrome P-450, a monooxygenase enzyme that requires NADPH as a coenzyme and uses O, as a substrate, places a hydroxyl group at the terminal carbon. Subsequent oxidation to a carboxyl group produces a dicarboxylic acid. Either end can form an ester linkage to CoA and be subjected to /3-oxidation, producing a... 

As seen already, palmitate is the primary product of the fatty acid synthase. Cells synthesize many other fatty acids. Shorter chains are easily made if the chain is released before reaching 16 carbons in length. Longer chains are made through special elongation reactions, which occur both in the mitochondria and at the surface of the endoplasmic reticulum. The ER reactions are actually quite similar to those we have just discussed addition of two-carbon units... 

This impressive reaction is catalyzed by stearoyl-CoA desaturase, a 53-kD enzyme containing a nonheme iron center. NADH and oxygen (Og) are required, as are two other proteins cytochrome 65 reductase (a 43-kD flavo-protein) and cytochrome 65 (16.7 kD). All three proteins are associated with the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Cytochrome reductase transfers a pair of electrons from NADH through FAD to cytochrome (Figure 25.14). Oxidation of reduced cytochrome be, is coupled to reduction of nonheme Fe to Fe in the desaturase. The Fe accepts a pair of electrons (one at a time in a cycle) from cytochrome b and creates a cis double bond at the 9,10-posi-tion of the stearoyl-CoA substrate. Og is the terminal electron acceptor in this fatty acyl desaturation cycle. Note that two water molecules are made, which means that four electrons are transferred overall. Two of these come through the reaction sequence from NADH, and two come from the fatty acyl substrate that is being dehydrogenated. 

Organisms differ with respect to formation, processing, and utilization of polyunsaturated fatty acids. E. coli, for example, does not have any polyunsaturated fatty acids. Eukaryotes do synthesize a variety of polyunsaturated fatty acids, certain organisms more than others. For example, plants manufacture double bonds between the A and the methyl end of the chain, but mammals cannot. Plants readily desaturate oleic acid at the 12-position (to give linoleic acid) or at both the 12- and 15-positions (producing linolenic acid). Mammals require polyunsaturated fatty acids, but must acquire them in their diet. As such, they are referred to as essential fatty acids. On the other hand, mammals can introduce double bonds between the double bond at the 8- or 9-posi-tion and the carboxyl group. Enzyme complexes in the endoplasmic reticulum desaturate the 5-position, provided a double bond exists at the 8-position, and form a double bond at the 6-position if one already exists at the 9-position. Thus, oleate can be unsaturated at the 6,7-position to give an 18 2 d5-A ,A fatty acid. 

Mammals synthesize phosphatidylserine (PS) in a calcium ion-dependent reaction involving aminoalcohol exchange (Figure 25.21). The enzyme catalyzing this reaction is associated with the endoplasmic reticulum and will accept phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and other phospholipid substrates. A mitochondrial PS decarboxylase can subsequently convert PS to PE. No other pathway converting serine to ethanolamine has been found. 

All prostaglandins are cyclopentanoic acids derived from arachidonic acid. The biosynthesis of prostaglandins is initiated by an enzyme associated with the endoplasmic reticulum, called prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase, also known as cyclooxygenase. The enzyme catalyzes simultaneous oxidation and cyclization of arachidonic acid. The enzyme is viewed as having two distinct activities, cyclooxygenase and peroxidase, as shown in Figure 25.28. 

Squalene monooxygenase, an enzyme bound to the endoplasmic reticulum, converts squalene to squalene-2,3-epoxide (Figure 25.35). This reaction employs FAD and NADPH as coenzymes and requires Og as well as a cytosolic protein called soluble protein activator. A second ER membrane enzyme, 2,3-oxidosqualene lanosterol cyclase, catalyzes the second reaction, which involves a succession of 1,2 shifts of hydride ions and methyl groups. 

Although lanosterol may appear similar to cholesterol in structure, another 20 steps are required to convert lanosterol to cholesterol (Figure 25.35). The enzymes responsible for this are all associated with the endoplasmic reticulum. The primary pathway involves 7-dehydroeholesterol as the penultimate intermediate. An alternative pathway, also composed of many steps, produces the intermediate desmosterol. Reduction of the double bond at C-24 yields cholesterol. Cholesterol esters—a principal form of circulating cholesterol—are synthesized by acyl-CoA cholesterol acyltransferases (ACAT) on the cytoplasmic face of the endoplasmic reticulum. 

HDL and VLDL are assembled primarily in the endoplasmic reticulum of the liver (with smaller amounts produced in the intestine), whereas chylomicrons form in the intestine. LDL is not synthesized directly, but is made from VLDL. LDL appears to be the major circulatory complex for cholesterol and cholesterol esters. The primary task of chylomicrons is to transport triacylglycerols. Despite all this, it is extremely important to note that each of these lipoprotein classes contains some of each type of lipid. The relative amounts of HDL and LDL are important in the disposition of cholesterol in the body and in the development of arterial plaques (Figure 25.36). The structures of the various... 

Kendall, J. M., et al. (1996). Recombinant apoaequorin acting as a pseudo-luciferase reports micromolar changes in the endoplasmic reticulum free Ca2+ of intact cells. Biochem. J. 318 383-387. 

Proteins embedded in the shell of lipoproteins. They serve as scaffold for assembly of the lipoprotein particle in the endoplasmic reticulum. In addition, they control metabolism of lipoproteins in the circulation by interaction with enzymes such as lipases. Finally, apolipoproteins determine cellular uptake of the particles by interaction with specific lipoprotein receptors expressed on the surface of target cells. 

Zimmermann R, Muller L, Wullich B (2006) Protein transport into the endoplasmic reticulum mechanism and pathologies. Trends Mol Med 12 567-573... 

Glycosydphosphatidylinositolation The GlycoPho-sphatidyl Inositol moiety anchor of AChE consists exclusively of diacyl molecular species. Over 85% of the molecular species are composed of palmitoyl, stearoyl and oleoyl. The post-translational process of glypiation takes place in the endoplasmic reticulum, after completion of the polypeptide chain the newly synthesized protein interacts with a transamidase... 

COPII vesicles are transport intermediates from the endoplasmic reticulum. The process is driven by recruitment of the soluble proteins that form the coat structure called COPII from the cytoplasm to the membrane. 

Calcium channels in the plasma membrane activated after receptor-mediated calcium release from intracellular stores. Diese channels are present in many cellular types and play pivotal roles in a multitude of cell functions. It was recently shown that Orai proteins are the pore-forming subunit of CRAC channels. They are activated by STIM proteins that sense the Ca2+ content of the endoplasmic reticulum. 

Cytochrome P450 2C9 is a mixed-function oxidase localized in the endoplasmic reticulum which is responsible for the biotransformation of several nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory diugs, S-warfarin, several sulfonylurea antidiabetics and other diugs. 

The membrane tubules and lamellae of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) are extended in the cell with the use of MTs and actin filaments. Kinesin motors are required for stretching out the ER, whereas depolymerization of microtubules causes the retraction of the ER to the cell centre in an actin-dependent manner. Newly synthesized proteins in the ER are moved by dynein motors along MTs to the Golgi complex (GC), where they are modified and packaged. The resulting vesicles move along the MTs to the cell periphery transported by kinesin motors. MTs determine the shape and the position also of the GC. Their depolymerization causes the fragmentation and dispersal of the GC. Dynein motors are required to rebuild the GC. 

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