Glycoconjugate

A glycoconjugate is a compound made up of carbohydrates bound covalently to other types of molecules: polypeptides or proteins and lipids.

Classification of the glycoconjugates

The glycoconjugates are classified according to the type of aglycone molecule attached (peptide, protein or lipid) and on the relative proportions of the carbohydrate and aglycone parts.

The following are distinguished:

• glycoproteins;
• glycolipids;
• peptidoglycans;
• proteoglycans;
• and lipoglycans.