______________ are comprised of a sulfated GAG bound to a protein.

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Multiple Choice

______________ are comprised of a sulfated GAG bound to a protein.

Explanation:
Proteoglycans are composed of a core protein with long sulfated glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chains covalently bound to it. Those GAG chains are highly charged due to sulfate groups, which makes proteoglycans highly hydrated and able to occupy space in the extracellular matrix, providing compressive resistance and a gel-like environment important in tissues such as cartilage and the cornea. Glycoproteins have smaller carbohydrate additions and do not feature long sulfated GAG chains; collagens and elastins are primarily protein fibers without bound GAGs. Therefore, the described structure—sulfated GAG bound to a protein—is characteristic of proteoglycans.

Proteoglycans are composed of a core protein with long sulfated glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chains covalently bound to it. Those GAG chains are highly charged due to sulfate groups, which makes proteoglycans highly hydrated and able to occupy space in the extracellular matrix, providing compressive resistance and a gel-like environment important in tissues such as cartilage and the cornea. Glycoproteins have smaller carbohydrate additions and do not feature long sulfated GAG chains; collagens and elastins are primarily protein fibers without bound GAGs. Therefore, the described structure—sulfated GAG bound to a protein—is characteristic of proteoglycans.

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