Glycoproteins

What are glycoproteins?

membrane proteins with a carbohydrate attached to them

What is the function of glycoproteins in animal cell membranes?

play a role in cell-to-cell recognition, as their carbohydrate chains face outward and can be recognized by other cell receptors

What do RBC’s carry?

different glycoproteins on their cell membrane with the ABO antigens required for cell-to-cell recognition

How are glycoproteins related to blood types?

each of the 4 blood types has a slightly different version of a glycoprotein on the surface of RBC.

What role do glycoproteins play in self and non-self recognition

glycoproteins in cell membranes help the body distinguish between self and non-self cells, which is crucial for immune response

Why are glycoproteins important in blood transfusions

determine blood type compatibility. For example, a person with blood group A has antibodies that recognize blood group B cells as foreign