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Glycoproteins

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Glycoproteins are molecules made from the combination of proteins and carbohydrates.

The Golgi body is the site of most glycoprotein formation which may be either:

  • O-linked glycosylation by addition of carbohydrate chains to serine or threonine amino acid residues
  • N-linked glycosylation by addition of carbohydrate chains to asparagine residues

Glycoproteins have a number of functions:

  • membrane bound:
    • glycocalyx - physical cellular protection
    • immune recognition
    • targetting of membrane-bound vesicles within the cell
    • cell receptors e.g. for LDL and ferritin
    • thyroglobulin, the storage form of thyroxine
    • extracellular matrix recognition molecules e.g. the integrins

  • free:
    • immunoglobulins
    • extracellular matrix components e.g. fibronectin
    • haemoglobin
    • synthetic plasminogen activating factor

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