Glycoproteins
Glycoproteins
Glycoproteins (pronounced: gly·co·pro·teins) are a type of protein that have carbohydrate groups attached to the polypeptide chain. The carbohydrates are often attached to the protein in a process called glycosylation.
Etymology
The term "glycoprotein" is derived from the Greek words "glykys," meaning sweet, and "proteios," meaning primary. This is in reference to the carbohydrate (sugar) groups attached to the protein.
Structure
Glycoproteins are composed of a protein backbone with one or several carbohydrates (sugars) attached to it. The carbohydrates can be simple sugars (monosaccharides) or complex sugars (polysaccharides). The type and arrangement of the carbohydrates can vary, leading to a wide diversity of glycoprotein structures.
Function
Glycoproteins play crucial roles in many biological processes. They are involved in cell-cell interaction, cell signaling, and the immune response. Some glycoproteins serve as antigens, such as the A, B, and O antigens on red blood cells that determine blood type. Others function as receptors on the cell surface, binding to specific molecules to trigger a response inside the cell.
Related Terms
- Glycosylation: The process by which carbohydrates are attached to proteins to form glycoproteins.
- Protein: A large molecule composed of one or more chains of amino acids in a specific order.
- Carbohydrate: A biological molecule consisting of carbon (C), hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) atoms.
- Antigen: A substance that induces an immune response in the body, especially the production of antibodies.
- Receptor: A protein molecule that receives chemical signals from outside a cell.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Glycoproteins
- Wikipedia's article - Glycoproteins
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