Synonyms
Mucins; MUC
Definition
Mucins (MUC) are high-molecular-weight glycoproteins constituted by a protein backbone (apomucin) and carbohydrate side chains. The vast majority of mucin glycosylation is constituted by O-glycans which are linked to serine (Ser) or threonine (Thr) residues on the protein backbone, and, in fact, more than 50% of the mucin molecular mass is composed of carbohydrates. The primary functions of mucins are to hydrate, protect, and lubricate the epithelial surfaces within the human body.
Features
There are two main classes of mucins: membrane-bound mucins, contributing to the composition of the cellular glycocalyx, and secreted mucins, contributing to the composition of the extracellular matrix or the mucous barrier that covers all epithelial surfaces in the human body, except the skin. Mucins share a common structural feature which is a tandem repeatdomain comprising a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTRs) of identical or highly similar sequences rich...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences and Further Reading
de Bolós, C., Garrido, M., & Real, F. X. (1995). MUC6 apomucin shows a distinct normal tissue distribution that correlates with Lewis antigen expression in the human stomach. Gastroenterology, 109, 723–734.
Carvalho, F., Seruca, R., David, L., Amorim, A., Seixas, M., Bennett, E., Clausen, H., & Sobrinho-Simões, M. (1997). MUC1 gene polymorphism and gastric cancer – An epidemiological study. Glycoconjugate Journal, 14, 107–111.
Kufe, D. W. (2009). Mucins in cancer: Function, prognosis and therapy. Nature Reviews. Cancer, 9, 874–885.
Reis, C. A., Osorio, H., Silva, L., Gomes, C., & David, L. (2010). Alterations in glycosylation as biomarkers for cancer detection. Journal of Clinical Pathology, 63, 322–329.
Teixeira, A., David, L., Reis, C. A., Costa, J., & Sobrinho-Simões, M. (2002). Expression of mucins (MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC, and MUC6) and type 1 Lewis antigens in cases with and without Helicobacter pylori colonization in metaplastic glands of the human stomach. The Journal of Pathology, 197, 37–43.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG
About this entry
Cite this entry
Almeida, R. (2017). Mucins. In: Carneiro, F., Chaves, P., Ensari, A. (eds) Pathology of the Gastrointestinal Tract. Encyclopedia of Pathology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40560-5_1655
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40560-5_1655
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-40559-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-40560-5
eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine