Question:medium
The proteoglycan present in the glomerular basement membrane is?
The proteoglycan present in the glomerular basement membrane is?
Show Hint
Think of the negatively charged proteoglycan that forms the charge barrier and repels albumin.
Updated On: Jun 23, 2026
- Keratan sulphate 1
- Keratan sulphate 2
- Heparan sulphate
- Chondroitin sulphate
Show Solution
The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
Mnemonic angle: the glomerular basement membrane is the charge barrier, and the molecule that gives it its negative charge is heparan sulphate, option (c). Because albumin is also negatively charged, like charges repel and albumin is held back, which is why heparan sulphate loss leads to proteinuria.
Build the membrane piece by piece: type 4 collagen forms the structural scaffold, laminin and nidogen bind the components together, and heparan sulphate proteoglycan supplies the anionic charge. Keratan sulphate (options a and b) is typically found in cornea and cartilage, and chondroitin sulphate (option d) is more a cartilage and connective-tissue proteoglycan. Neither is the signature proteoglycan of the glomerular basement membrane, so the answer is heparan sulphate.
Ref: Arvind Arora Review Book of Physiology.
Build the membrane piece by piece: type 4 collagen forms the structural scaffold, laminin and nidogen bind the components together, and heparan sulphate proteoglycan supplies the anionic charge. Keratan sulphate (options a and b) is typically found in cornea and cartilage, and chondroitin sulphate (option d) is more a cartilage and connective-tissue proteoglycan. Neither is the signature proteoglycan of the glomerular basement membrane, so the answer is heparan sulphate.
Ref: Arvind Arora Review Book of Physiology.
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