glycocalyx

(noun)

A filamentous coating of glycoprotein and polysaccharide on the surface of bacteria and some other cells

Related Terms

  • slime layer
  • bacterial capsule

Examples of glycocalyx in the following topics:

  • Glycocalyx

  • Glycocalyx and Capsule

  • Glycocalyx

    • A glycocalyx(capsule or slime layer)is an external coating of bacteria with protective function, made mostly of polysaccharides.
    • A distinct, gelatinous glycocalyx is called abacterial capsule, whereas an irregular, diffuse layer is called a slime layer .
    • Bacteria growing in natural ecosystems, such as in soil, bovine intestines, or the human urinary tract, is surrounded by some sort of glycocalyx-enclosed microcolony.
    • Streptococcus pneumoniae attaches itself to either lung cells, prokaryotes, or other bacteria which can fuse their glycocalyxes to envelop the colony).
    • This diagram depicts the different types of glycocalyx. 1) Bacterial capsule is a well-organized layer outside the cell. 2) Slime layer is diffuse and irregular in structure. 3) Bacteria can form biofilms by fusing their glycocalyxes.
  • Injuring the Plasma Membrane

    • It serves as the attachment surface for several extracellular structures, including the cell wall, glycocalyx, and intracellular cytoskeleton.
Subjects
  • Accounting
  • Algebra
  • Art History
  • Biology
  • Business
  • Calculus
  • Chemistry
  • Communications
  • Economics
  • Finance
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • Microbiology
  • Physics
  • Physiology
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Statistics
  • U.S. History
  • World History
  • Writing

Except where noted, content and user contributions on this site are licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 with attribution required.