Golgi Apparatus

The Golgi apparatus is a stack of disc-shaped, membrane-bound compartments called cisternae, with two distinct faces: the cis face and the trans face.

Each cisterna contains unique enzymes and trafficking proteins that process proteins and lipids as they move through the Golgi.

Proteins and lipids from the endoplasmic reticulum enter the cis-Golgi, then move through the medial cisternae, where enzymes add sugars, phosphates, or sulfates.

These changes affect protein stability and activity and help guide proteins to the correct organelle.

The trans-Golgi network is farthest from the endoplasmic reticulum. Here, molecules are sorted based on their final destination.

During sorting, each molecule is tagged with a sorting signal that helps send it to the correct organelle.

Finally, the cargo molecules are packaged into transport vesicles and sent to their destinations, such as the cell membrane, lysosomes, or the extracellular space.