Glycocalyx with Hans Vink, PhD

Hans Vink from the Netherlands is a Co-Founder and Director of the Glycocalyx Advanced Research Institute. He is a research pioneer and the world’s leading glycocalyx expert. His H-index is 54, and he has published over 150 scholarly papers, and his research has been cited in more than 17,000 citations. The glycocalyx is a crucial structure for cell interaction, protection, and communication, differing in composition and function between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. The glycocalyx is a gel-like, carbohydrate-rich layer that surrounds the outer surface of many cells, especially animal cells and bacteria.
In Animal Cells:

The glycocalyx is composed mainly of glycoproteins, glycolipids, and proteoglycans.

It extends from the plasma membrane into the extracellular space.

Functions:

Protection – Acts as a cushion against mechanical and chemical damage.

Cell Recognition and Communication – Plays a key role in immune responses and interactions between cells.

Adhesion – Helps cells stick to each other and to extracellular structures.

Selective Barrier – Filters molecules that approach the cell membrane.

Signal Transduction – Helps transmit signals from outside to inside the cell.