What term is used for long carbohydrate molecules attached to membrane proteins and lipids?

The term that describes long carbohydrate molecules attached to membrane proteins and lipids is glycocalyx. The glycocalyx serves several important functions in cells, including providing protection, facilitating cell recognition, and aiding in communication between cells. It consists of a dense network of glycoproteins and glycolipids that extend from the cell membrane into the extracellular environment.

While glycoproteins and glycolipids also involve carbohydrate attachments, they refer specifically to proteins and lipids that have carbohydrate groups. Glycocalyx, however, encompasses the entire matrix of carbohydrates that surround the cell membrane, including the contributions from both glycoproteins and glycolipids. Proteoglycans, on the other hand, are a specific type of glycoprotein with a significant carbohydrate component, but they are not as broadly inclusive of the cellular coating as glycocalyx. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify the role of carbohydrates in cellular structures and functions.