Glycoproteins

Glycoproteins are proteins that are covalently attached to carbohydrates (small oligosaccharides) located on the outer layer of the plasma membrane. They serve the function of cell recognition due to specific glycosylation patterns for individual cells. Being part of the cell's surface membrane means the glycoprotein participates in cell adhesion.This is caused by the complex nature of carbohydrate bonding and branching. Their complex nature means they are very versatile molecules and as such, serve many other biochemical functions.