Final answer:
The false statement about glycoproteins is that they do not contain carbohydrates. In reality, glycoproteins are proteins with associated carbohydrate chains, crucial for cellular functions like cell-cell recognition and signaling. The answer is that the first statement, 'Glycoproteins do not contain carbohydrates,' is false.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student has posed a question regarding which statement about glycoproteins is FALSE. Glycoproteins indeed contain carbohydrates; they are proteins with attached carbohydrate chains that play critical roles in the biological functions of a cell, such as cell-cell recognition and cell signaling.
Glycoproteins are integral membrane proteins with attached carbohydrate molecules that extend into the extracellular matrix. This configuration forms part of the glycocalyx, a 'sugar coating' on the surface of cells. The carbohydrate chains on glycoproteins vary in length and composition and are involved in a variety of crucial cellular processes. They facilitate interactions with the cell's watery environment, contribute to the immune system’s ability to distinguish between self and non-self, and are essential in cell-to-cell attachments necessary for tissue formation. Additionally, glycoproteins provide an identity to cells, which is critical for the immune system to avoid attacking its own cells and for embryonic development.