| Description : |
Mucins are glycoproteins abundant with O-linked oligosaccharides secreted by epithelial mucous membranes. Their protective function is due to their high viscosity. Bovine submaxillary mucin has a molecular weight of 4 - 40 X 105 daltons. The molecule consists of major and minor components with a protein moiety (36.6% of the molecule) and a carbohydrate moiety (56.7% of the molecule). Mucins are the glycoproteins in epithelial mucous secretions; their protective function is due to their high viscosity. Svennerholm (1963) describes the preparation of sialic acids from mucin. Tettamanti and Pigman (1968) separated BSM into major and minor components and determined the amino acids of the protein moiety (36.6% of the molecule). Besides sialic acid and N-acetyl-galactosamine they reported small amounts of fructose and galactose. Bettelheim et al. (1972) report the carbohydrate content to be 56.7% and the molecular shape to be that of a stiff rod. Downs and Pigman (1969) and Pigman et al. (1973) suggest the possibility of a repeating glycopeptide structure. |
| Source : |
Bovine Submaxillary Gland |
| Species : |
Bovine |
| Form : |
A dry powder prepared by the method of Nisizawa, K., and Pigman, W.: Arch. Oral. Biol., 1, 161 (1959). Suitable as a substrate for neuraminidase. |
| Molecular Mass : |
400,000 (Downs and Pigman 1969). 4,000,000 by light-scattering (Bettelheim et al. 1962). |
| Notes : |
Protect from moisture. |
| Storage : |
Stable indefinately at 2 - 8 centigrade. Protect from moisture. |
