Plant Endoplasmic Reticulum

Abstract

The plant endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is responsible for the synthesis and often storage of a large group of proteins and lipids that enter the secretory pathway. This multifunctional organelle, which also represents one of the calcium storage compartments in plant cells, has currently received considerable attention from the research community because of features unique to plants that make it particularly interesting for biotechnology. Here, the principles behind ER dynamics and interactions between the ER and organelles in plants, and the molecular factors that control the rapid remodelling and network configuration of the organelle are discussed. Correlations between ER morphology and function indicate the potential to enhance protein storage by merely increasing the capacity of the organelle through altering its shape. Key Concepts The endoplasmic reticulum in plants rapidly changes ‘shape’. The ER is composed of a polygonal network of tubules and cisternae (sheets) that readily interconvert. ER morphology is controlled by several molecular components; membrane shaping proteins, reticulons (RTNs), affect ER curvature, root hair defective 3 (RHD3) controls tubule fusion and is affected by lunapark. ER network movement is driven by actin and myosin in plants. The ER is physically connected to several organelles in plant cells.