Human Biochemistry Volume 1 - Murray R. 1993

Bioenergetics and Carbohydrate and Lipid Metabolism
Physiologically Important Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates of Cell Membranes

The lipid Structure of The Cell membrane is described in chapters 15 and 42. However, an Analysis of the components that make up mammalian cell membranes indicates that approximately 5% consists of CARBOHYDRATES, which are part of Glycoproteins and Glycolipids. The presence of carbohydrates on the outer surface of the cell membrane (collectively forming the glycocalyx) was established using plant Lectins—protein agglutinins that specifically bind to certain glycosyl residues. For example, concanavalin A is specific for a-glucosyl and a-mannosyl residues.

Glycophorin is the major membrane-spanning (integral) glycoprotein of human erythrocytes. It consists of 130 amino acid residues and traverses The Lipid Bilayer, with free polypeptide segments protruding from both the outer and inner (cytoplasmic) surfaces. The carbohydrate chains are attached exclusively to the N-terminal segment located on the outer surface of the membrane (see ch. 42).

Class="center">References

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