The glycocalyx is composed of membrane:

The glycocalyx is a layer of carbohydrates that is found on the outer surface of the plasma membrane of many cells. It plays a crucial role in cell recognition, communication, and protection. The primary components of the glycocalyx are glycoproteins and glycolipids.

Glycoproteins are proteins that have carbohydrates attached to them, while glycolipids consist of lipids with attached carbohydrate chains. These structures are essential for providing a protective layer around the cell and for facilitating interactions with other cells and the extracellular environment. They help in forming a unique cellular identity, which is important for functions such as immune response and cell adhesion.

By contrast, the other options do not accurately represent the composition of the glycocalyx. Phospholipids and cholesterol primarily make up the phospholipid bilayer of the cell membrane rather than the glycocalyx itself. Transmembrane and cytoskeletal proteins, while important for various cellular functions, do not constitute the glycocalyx. The rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum are organelles involved in protein and lipid synthesis, rather than components of the glycocalyx.

Thus, the composition of the glycocalyx being primarily glycoproteins and glycolipids is what