Synthetic Functions of the Golgi Apparatus. Although the major function of the Golgi
apparatus is to provide additional processing of substances already formed in theendoplasmic
reticulum, it also has the capability of synthesizing certain carbohydrates that cannot be formed in the
endoplasmic reticulum. This is especially true for the formation of large saccharide polymers bound
with small amounts of protein; important examples include hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate. A
few of the many functions of hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate in the body are as follows: (1)
they are the major components of proteoglycans secreted in mucus and other glandular secretions; (2)
they are the major components of the ground substance outside the cells in the interstitial spaces,
acting as fillers between collagen fibers and cells; (3) they are principal components of the organic
matrix in both cartilage and bone; and (4) they are important in many cell activities including
migration and proliferation.
