The native glycocalyx ultrastructure in humans and sponges is a self-assembled, lamellar micro- and nanoarray.

ABSTRACT: Mucin, proteoglycan, glyconectin, and hyaluronan intermolecular binding in the physiological hydrated state forms the native glycocalyx ultrastructure via the polyvalent interactions of their similar bottle-brush morphologies. This ultrastructure provides a variety of essential cellular recognition/adhesion and selective filtration functions. Unfortunately, for decades, the glycocalyx architecture was only examined in the non-native dehydrated/fixed state. This has resulted in the visualization of an artefactual unorganized fiber mesh, hindering understanding of structure-function relationships. We unveil a well-organized glycocalyx lamellar ultrastructure using cryo-SEM after cryo-preservation with minimal sublimation to conserve water and ion distribution and, thereby, native intermolecu

SUBMITTER: Garbarino E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11659418 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature