What is the Role of the Endoplasmic Reticulum and Golgi Apparatus?
The rough ER is crucial for the synthesis and initial folding of plasma proteins. Ribosomes on the rough ER surface translate mRNA into polypeptides, which enter the ER lumen for folding and initial modifications. The Golgi apparatus further processes these proteins, adding essential modifications like carbohydrate chains, which are vital for protein function and stability. The Golgi then sorts and packages the proteins into vesicles for secretion.
