Glycocalyx

Quick meaning: Glycocalyx is a noun meaning (biology, anatomy) A filamentous coating of glycoprotein and polysaccharide on the surface of bacteria and some other cells.

Meaning

(biology, anatomy) A filamentous coating of glycoprotein and polysaccharide on the surface of bacteria and some other cells.

Example Sentences

In cancer, the glycocalyxes of circulating tumor cells play a fundamental role in the metastatic process.

The microvilli are in turn covered with a velvety meshwork made of countless sugar-based structures that look a little bit like antlers. These are called the glycocalyxes.

Blood platelets and megakaryocytes from which they arise, both have ruthenium red positive glycocalyces in the form of globular particles; ruthenium red is known to react strongly with chondroitin sulphate.

2016, V. C. Hascall, P. H. Weigel, B. P. Toole, Hyalurolan, Ralph A. Bradshaw, Philip D. Stahl, Gerald W. Hart (editors), Encyclopedia of Cell Biology, Volume 1: Molecular Cell Biology, Elesvier (Academic Press), page 280, Most cells are able to dynamically synthesize hyaluronan and form cell-associated glycocalyces that include chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (e.g., versican and aggrecan) bound to the hyaluronan (Figure 4).

Word Forms

• glycocalyces
• glycocalyxes

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include glycocalix, glycostructure, glycoprotein, glycan, polyglycan, podocalyxin.

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