Classification of glycoproteins

Glycoproteins result from the covalent association of carbohydrate moieties with protein. The amino acids and carbohydrates comprising the glycoprotein molecules are organised in two general ways. One type has a protein core, frequently molecular weight less than 100,000 to which are attached a few oligosaccharides residues.

The other type has a much higher molecular weight and is mainly carbohydrate in content and is organised as hundreds of small oligosaccharides residues covalently linked to a peptide core.

Classifications of glycoproteins is based in the type of glycosidic linkage involved in the attachment of carbohydrate to the peptide backbone.
*Glycoproteins having one carbohydrate group in each protein group
Ovalbumin MW 44.5x1000
Soybean hemagglutinin MW 110x1000
Ceruloplasmin MW 143x1000
Transferrin MW 92x1000

*Glycoproteins having a few carbohydrates groups in each protein unit
Ovomucoid MW 28x1000
Fibrinogen MW 330x1000
Fetuin MW 46x1000
D-glucose oxidase MW 186x1000
Thyroglobulin MW 600x1000

*Glycoproteins having many carbohydrate groups in each protein unit
Epithelial mucins MW 1000x1000
Blood group substance A MW 416x1000
Classification of glycoproteins