membrane carbohydrate
Last reviewed 01/2018
Carbohydrate is linked to the external face of the plasma membrane as:
- glycoproteins; the vast majority
- glycolipids
- proteoglycans; long polysaccharide chains joined to a protein core, commonly set free from the surface as an excreted product
The layer is termed the glycocalyx, or cell coat, and it blends into the extracellular matrix.