Module 5: Carbohydrate Staining Flashcards
What are the two carbohydrate functional groups?
Glycogen and mucins
What is glycogen?
Simple polysaccharide, glucose precursor
Where is glycogen found?
Liver, cardiac and skeletal muscle, endocervix, umbilical cord, and hair follicles
What are mucins?
Glycoconjugates, mucopolysaccharides, and mucosubstances
What do mucins do?
Lubrication and favorable diffusion environment
Anti-adhesive nature in bladder
What are the reactive endgroups of carbohydrates?
1,2 glycol groups
Carboxyl (COOH)
Ester sulphate (OSO3H)
What are polysaccharides bound to?
Protein or in protein environment
What are the 4 groups of carbohydrates?
Group 1: Neutral polysaccharides
Group 2: Acid Mucopolysaccharides
Group 3: Glycoproteins
Group 4: Glycolipids
What are the 2 sub groups of group 1 neutral polysaccharides?
Give examples.
Glucose containing - glycogen, starch, cellulose
N-acetyl-glucosamine-containing - chitin-hyatid cysts
Is glycogen bound to protein or in a protein environment? Why is this important?
Protein environment
Some will move from its original site during fixation
How do members of group 1 stain?
PAS positive
Negative for all other carbohydrate stains
What sub groups are part of group 2: acid mucopolysaccharides? Give examples
Carboxylated (COOH) - hyaluronic acid
Sulphated - not containing hexuronic aicd
Carbodylated and sulphated - chondroitin sulphate A, B, and C
Where are carboxylated mucopolysaccharides found?
Connective tissue, synovial fluid, umbilical cord
Where are sulphated mucopolysaccharides found?
Aorta
Where are sulphated and carboxylated mucopolysaccharides found?
Chondroitin sulphate A - hyaline cartilage
Chondroitin sulphate B - skin, aorta, lung, heart valves
Chondroitin C - skin, blood vessels, cornea, umbilical cord
Heparin in mast cells
Heparin sulfate of arterial intima
