glycocalyx

plural glycocalyces · plural glycocalyxes

1. anatomyA filamentous coating of glycoprotein and polysaccharide on the surface of bacteria and some other cells.

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

   2017, Stefania Marcotti, Gwendolen C. Reilly, “3: Sugar-Coating the Cell: The Role of the Glycocalyx in Mechanobiology”, in Simon C. F. Rawlinson, editor, Mechanobiology: Exploitation for Medical Benefit, Wiley, page 44

   3 more examples

   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.

   1976, L. T. Threadgold, The Ultrastructure of the Animal Cell, 2nd edition, Pergamon Press, page 146

   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.

   2015, Giulia Enders, translated by David Shaw, Gut, Scribe, published 2016, page 36

   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).