The carbohydrate-rich zone on the cell surface. This zone can be visualized by a variety of stains as well as by its affinity for lectins. Although most of the carbohydrate is attached to intrinsic plasma membrane molecules, the glycocalyx usually also contains both glycoproteins and proteoglycans that have been secreted into the extracellular space and then adsorbed onto the cell surface. (Alberts et al., Molecular Biology of the Cell, 3d ed, p502)

Annotation

a carbohydrate-rich zone on cell surface

DUI

D019276 MeSH Browser

CUI

M0028705

Previous indexing

Glycoproteins (1976-1996); Polysaccharides (1976-1996)

History note

97; was GLYCOCALYX (NM) 1976-96

Public note

97; GLYCOCALYX was indexed under GLYCOPROTEINS & POLYSACCHARIDES 1976-96