What is the Difference Between Golgi Apparatus and Endoplasmic Reticulum?

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Accepted Answer

Golgi apparatus and endoplasmic reticulum are two crucial cell organelles present in eukaryotic cells. They perform vital but different functions for the survival of the cells.

Basis of Differentiation
Golgic Apparatus
Endoplasmic Reticulum

What it is
Is a prominent cell organelle that exists as an arrangement of a few fluid-filled discs covered by a membrane similar to the cell membrane
Is a vital cell organelle that exists as a network of vesicles and tubules

Types
Only one type of Golgi apparatus

Two types of Endoplasmic Reticulum: Rough ER (RER) -Ribosomes on its external surface give it a rough appearance under the microscope; Smooth ER (SER) - has no ribosomes on its surface, which gives it a smooth appearance under the microscope

Functions

Involved in processing of glycoproteins, lipid metabolism, and formation of enzyme-filled lysosomes
Sorts, modifies, packages, and delivers cells synthesized through various biochemical processes and delivers them to the right place at the right time
Provides a site for carbohydrate synthesis

Responsible for folding and processing membranes, secreted and transmembrane proteins, synthesizing membrane lipids or their precursors, and lipid metabolism
Smooth ER is involved in lipid metabolism
Rough ER provides sites for protein synthesis
Rough ER acts as a plasma membrane reserve for cells and organelles, filling in the gaps when there is cell membrane damage

Intracellular Location
Is located in the cytoplasm in close proximity to the Rough ER and the nucleus but is not directly linked to the nucleus.

Density of Rough ER is greater near the nucleus with section of its surface appearing continuous with the cell’s nuclear envelope; Smooth ER are evenly distributed throughout the cell

Relationship with nucleus
Not directly associated with the nucleus
Part of the Rough ER surface is an extension of the nuclear envelope

Size
Comparatively smaller than ER
Largest organelle in the eukaryotic cells

Nature of cisternae
Cisternae are not interconnected 
Cisternae are interconnected with each other, facilitating the transport of macromolecules throughout the cell

Ribosomes 
No ribosomes present on the surface
Membrane bound ribosomes are present on the surface of Rough ER, giving the surface its distinctive rough appearance

Relationship with lysosomes
Involved in the production of lysosomes
RER is involved in the synthesis of lysosomal hydrolases

Types of vesicles 
Has secretory vesicles
Has COPII-coated transport vesicles

Relationship with proteins
Receives matured proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum and packages them before transportation to their respective destinations 
Carries out post translational modifications of proteins, which are then  transported into the Golgi apparatus for packaging and transporting

Transportation of proteins
Forms secretory vesicles that transport sorted proteins to their eventual destinations
Transports matured proteins to Golgi apparatus using small transport vesicles known as COPII-coated transport vesicles

Basis of Differentiation	Golgic Apparatus	Endoplasmic Reticulum
What it is	Is a prominent cell organelle that exists as an arrangement of a few fluid-filled discs covered by a membrane similar to the cell membrane	Is a vital cell organelle that exists as a network of vesicles and tubules
Types	Only one type of Golgi apparatus	Two types of Endoplasmic Reticulum: Rough ER (RER) -Ribosomes on its external surface give it a rough appearance under the microscope; Smooth ER (SER) - has no ribosomes on its surface, which gives it a smooth appearance under the microscope
Functions	Involved in processing of glycoproteins, lipid metabolism, and formation of enzyme-filled lysosomes Sorts, modifies, packages, and delivers cells synthesized through various biochemical processes and delivers them to the right place at the right time Provides a site for carbohydrate synthesis	Responsible for folding and processing membranes, secreted and transmembrane proteins, synthesizing membrane lipids or their precursors, and lipid metabolism Smooth ER is involved in lipid metabolism Rough ER provides sites for protein synthesis Rough ER acts as a plasma membrane reserve for cells and organelles, filling in the gaps when there is cell membrane damage
Intracellular Location	Is located in the cytoplasm in close proximity to the Rough ER and the nucleus but is not directly linked to the nucleus.	Density of Rough ER is greater near the nucleus with section of its surface appearing continuous with the cell’s nuclear envelope; Smooth ER are evenly distributed throughout the cell
Relationship with nucleus	Not directly associated with the nucleus	Part of the Rough ER surface is an extension of the nuclear envelope
Size	Comparatively smaller than ER	Largest organelle in the eukaryotic cells
Nature of cisternae	Cisternae are not interconnected	Cisternae are interconnected with each other, facilitating the transport of macromolecules throughout the cell
Ribosomes	No ribosomes present on the surface	Membrane bound ribosomes are present on the surface of Rough ER, giving the surface its distinctive rough appearance
Relationship with lysosomes	Involved in the production of lysosomes	RER is involved in the synthesis of lysosomal hydrolases
Types of vesicles	Has secretory vesicles	Has COPII-coated transport vesicles
Relationship with proteins	Receives matured proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum and packages them before transportation to their respective destinations	Carries out post translational modifications of proteins, which are then transported into the Golgi apparatus for packaging and transporting
Transportation of proteins	Forms secretory vesicles that transport sorted proteins to their eventual destinations	Transports matured proteins to Golgi apparatus using small transport vesicles known as COPII-coated transport vesicles

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