Figure 1.

Structure and synthesis of the glycocalyx. Schematic representation of the major glycocalyx components covering the luminal surface of endothelial cells (EC). On (A), ① Hyaluronan (HA) (blue) synthesized on the cellular surface; ② Cell surface receptor (gray); ③ Four examples of proteoglycans (PGs) (red, yellow, purple, brown) carry long glycosaminoglycan (GAG) side chains; ④ Other glycoproteins (green) have shorter, unbranched carbohydrate side chains. On (B), the structure of HA (blue), other glycoproteins (green) and PGs (brown) on phospholipid bilayer cell membrane; the core protein (including syndecan, glypican, biglycan, and perlecan) and GAG sidechain (including heparan sulfate (HS), chondroitin sulfate (CS), keratan sulfate (KS), and dermatan sulfate (DS)) in PGs On (C), the interaction of HA with the CD44 glycoprotein. (By Figdraw).