Organelles of Animal Cells: The Endomembrane System
1. Describe the general purpose of the endomembrane system and explain why
eukaryotic cells need it.
2. Regarding the endoplasmic reticulum:
Compare the structure of the rough vs. smooth endoplasmic reticulum.
Compare the functions of the rough vs. smooth endoplasmic reticulum, giving at
least two functions for each.
3. Describe the structure and function of the Golgi apparatus; what is the relationship
between the Golgi and endoplasmic reticulum?
4. Visualize a protein that is being synthesized on a ribosome and is destined to be
exported from the cell. Now describe (or draw) the path of the protein through the
endomembrane system to its final destination and indicate what happens to the
protein at each step along the way.
5. Explain what is meant by "membrane recycling" within a cell.
6. Regarding lysosomes:
List 3 specific functions that they perform for the cell.
Explain why leakage from a lysosome does not usually damage the cell.