Question

Can a cell live without endoplasmic reticulum?

Answer 1

Endoplasmic reticulum:

1. Without the endoplasmic reticulum, the cell will not survive.
2. Without rough ER the cell will not be able to synthesize new lysosomal enzymes, plasma membrane proteins, proteins for Golgi apparatus, and proteins essential for extracellular secretion.
3. Rough ER (with ribosomes) is responsible for the synthesis of all these proteins.
4. The smooth ER has the main role in lipid and steroid synthesis, it stored intracellular calcium as well.
5. Without ER in the skeletal muscle fibres, smooth muscle contraction wouldn’t happen.
6. So, cells will die due to the absence of these essential cellular mechanisms.
7. The cell will not be able to alter its membrane proteins for new ones without secretion.
8. This continuous damage to the membrane proteins will make the cells unable to interact with the extracellular matrix and more vulnerable to phagocytosis and apoptosis.