glycocalyx

English

The glycocalyx of a bacterium, in blue, labelled "6"

Etymology

From glyco- +‎ calyx.

Noun

glycocalyx (plural glycocalyces or glycocalyxes)

1. (biology, anatomy) A filamentous coating of glycoprotein and polysaccharide on the surface of bacteria and some other cells.
   • 1976, L. T. Threadgold, The Ultrastructure of the Animal Cell, 2nd edition, Pergamon Press, page 146:

     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.

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

     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.

   • 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).

   • 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:

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

Translations

filamentous coating of glycoprotein and polysaccharide on the surface of some cells

• French: glycocalyx (fr) m
• German: Glykokalyx f
• Italian: glicocalice m
• Portuguese: glicocálix m
• Pronunciation: glicocálice m, glicocálix m
• Spanish: glucocáliz m
• Turkish: glikokaliks