Glycocalicin (GC)

Glycocalicin (GC) is the carbohydrate-rich portion of platelet membrane glycoprotein Ib alpha that can be cleaved from circulating platelets by proteases. The plasma GC level is an indicator of platelet turnover. Glycalicin has a molecular weight of 148,000 (+/- 5,000) as determined by gel electrophoresis.Glycocalicin (GC) is a proteolytic fragment of GpIb .

Glycocalicin, a major glycoprotein of the platelet glycocalyx, is obtained in soluble forms following platelet homogenization and has been purified to homogeneity. Glycalicin has a molecular weight of 148,000 (+/- 5,000) as determined by gel electrophoresis. It contains 60 grams % carbohydrate (46.6 mol %) comprising galactose, N-acetylgalactosamine, N-acetylglucosamine, and sialic acid as its principal sugars in a ratio of 2:1:1:2, but with a small amount of glucose (2.3 mol %), mannose (1.2 mol %), and fucose (1.9 mol %).