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Endoplasmic reticulum

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a continuum of tubules and vesicles morphologically divided in “rough” ER (containing ribosomes attached on the cytosolic border that serves as the site of biological protein synthesis)[1] and “smooth” ER, lacking ribosomes.

Lack or presence of ribosome reflects the multi-functional nature of the ER. In eukaryotic cells, the rough ER has a pivotal function in protein biosynthesis serving as point for the secretory pathway and in the folding and maturation of protein within the cell [2], while the smooth ER is involved in carbohydrates metabolism, drugs detoxification and calcium storage [3].

Protein folding is required to create a functional protein able to exert its function; the ER is a cellular organelle that rectifies abnormal protein folding/function by acting on protein that need to be physiologically replaced/restored or have been damaged by external insults; this process is defined as “unfolded protein response” (UPR). ER could be considered as a signalling platform that responds to stimuli from in and outside the cells with the aim of maintaining cellular functions.

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