[Complex carbohydrates: their biosynthesis and biological role in the animal cell]

The review deals with the main classes of complex carbohydrates of higher animals: glycoproteins, glycolipids and glycosaminoglycans (mucopolysaccharides). Especial attention is given to the problems of non template bisynthesis of these compounds, such as the specificity of the glycosyltransferases, their subcellular localization and regulation of their activity. Genetic control of complex carbohydrates is also described and as an example of such the biosynthesis of blood group substances is considered. One of sections of the paper considers the biological role of the complex carbohydrates.