Difference Between Cis and Trans Face of Golgi Apparatus

The key difference between Cis and Trans Face of Golgi Apparatus is that the Cis face of Golgi apparatus is the receiving side of the vesicles from the rough ER to the Golgi apparatus while the Trans Face of Golgi Apparatus is the shipping side of the vesicles filled with proteins from the Golgi apparatus to other places.

Golgi apparatus is one of the cell organelles. Therefore, it consists of vesicles and cisternae. It is the cell organelle that involves sorting and packaging of proteins intracellularly before transporting into some other place. Endoplasmic reticulum forms vesicles and handovers to the Golgi apparatus. The cis face of the Golgi apparatus receives vesicles, and they coalesce to form cis cisternae. Cisternae mature and move in the direction of cis to trans face. From the trans face of the Golgi apparatus, vesicles leave from Golgi apparatus carrying specific proteins to other places.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Cis Face of Golgi Apparatus
3. What is Trans Face of Golgi Apparatus
4. Similarities Between Cis and Trans Face of Golgi Apparatus
5. Side by Side Comparison – Cis vs Trans Face of Golgi Apparatus in Tabular Form
6. Summary

What is Cis Face of Golgi Apparatus?

Golgi apparatus receives different products especially protein and lipid products from ER to process. When the Golgi apparatus receives them, it modifies them and exports into a variety of destinations. To be more speific, it sorts, modifies, and packages the proteins and lipids into vesicles. This receiving or forming the face of the Golgi apparatus is known as the cis face of the Golgi apparatus. Therefore, it is the entry side of the vesicles into the Golgi apparatus.

Moreover, these vesicles coalesce and form new cisternae at the cis face. These newly formed cisternae mature in the direction of cis to trans.  Cis face of the Golgi apparatus is visible in a concave shape.

What is Trans Face of Golgi Apparatus?

Vesicles leave from the Golgi apparatus from one side. It is the trans face of the Golgi apparatus. It is also known as exiting face or maturing face of Golgi apparatus. Vesicles filled with processed lipids and proteins bud off from the trans face.

Moreover, matured cisternae are situated at the trans face. This side of the Golgi apparatus is visible in a convex shape.

What are the Similarities Between Cis and Trans Face of Golgi Apparatus?

• They are two sides of the Golgi apparatus.
• Cis and Trans Face of Golgi Apparatus are categorized based on the receiving and shipping of vesicles.
• Both have cisternae.

What is the Difference Between Cis and Trans Face of Golgi Apparatus?

Cis and trans face of Golgi apparatus are two sides of Golgi apparatus. Cis face receives vesicles from ER. These vesicles fuse with Golgi apparatus and form new cisternae. Vesicles filled with processed proteins and lipids exit from the trans face of the Golgi apparatus. The maturation of cisternae occurs in the direction of cis to trans face. The cis face is the input of the Golgi apparatus whereas the trans face is the exit point. The infographic below presents the difference between cis and trans face of Golgi apparatus in a tabular form.

Summary – Cis vs Trans Face of Golgi Apparatus

Golgi apparatus has two faces; namely, the cis face and the trans face. Cisternae form and mature in the direction of cis to trans. Golgi apparatus receives vesicles from the cis face, and vesicles leave from the trans face of the Golgi apparatus. Furthermore, new cisternae form in the cis face of the Golgi apparatus and cisternae form vesicles at the trans face of the Golgi apparatus. The shape of the cis and trans face of Golgi apparatus are concave and convex respectively. This is the difference between cis and trans face of Golgi apparatus.

Reference:

1.“Molecular Expressions Cell Biology: The Golgi Apparatus.” Molecular Expressions Cell Biology: Bacteria Cell Structure. Available here  
2.“Golgi Apparatus.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 23 July 2018. Available here 

Image Courtesy:

1,’Golgi apparatus (editors version)’By Kelvinsong – Own work, (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia  
2.’0314 Golgi Apparatus a en’By OpenStax – the TextbookOpenStax Anatomy and PhysiologyPublished May 18, 2016, (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia