acct002@carroll1.UUCP (SOWMYA RAMACHANDRA) (09/27/89)
I just recently found out the existence of a glycocalyx. The
glycocalyx is the outer component of the cell surface. The inner component is
the cell membrane. Glycocalyces vary from cell to cell in more obvious ways
than do the cell membranes or inner components. However, they always contain
sugars, usually in polymer form and are often attached to strongly attached to
highly acidic groups. These sugars are always associated with other substances which may be proteins, lipids, lignins or phosphates. The term glycocalyx,
from the Greek for "sweet husk", refers to this sugar coating of cells.
In some cases like the human red blood cells, the glycocalyx is very
thin and tenuous and can't be seen easily even with a powerful electron
microscope. The red cell glycocalyx includes an interesting acidic sugar,
sialic acid and amino sugars in polymer form.
This is all the information I could gather about the glycocalyx
from our library. I would like to know if the glycocalyx has anything to
do with the movement of ions into the cell. I would also appreciate any
more information about the glycocalyx. Thank you in advance for your help.
palosaari@oxy.edu (Jedidiah Jon Palosaari) (10/01/89)
Someone previously asked about the glycocalyx of cells. I found some material on it, which is unfortunately copyrighted, and so cannot be reproduced here. If the questioner would email me, I could send him some info (as I no longer have his address). Thanx.