A mucoprotein is a
glycoprotein
Glycoproteins are proteins which contain oligosaccharide (sugar) chains covalently attached to amino acid side-chains. The carbohydrate is attached to the protein in a cotranslational or posttranslational modification. This process is known a ...
composed primarily of
mucopolysaccharides. Mucoproteins can be found throughout the body, including the
gastrointestinal tract
The gastrointestinal tract (GI tract, digestive tract, alimentary canal) is the tract or passageway of the Digestion, digestive system that leads from the mouth to the anus. The tract is the largest of the body's systems, after the cardiovascula ...
,
reproductive organs, airways, and the
synovial fluid
Synovial fluid, also called synovia, elp 1/sup> is a viscous, non-Newtonian fluid found in the cavities of synovial joints. With its egg white–like consistency, the principal role of synovial fluid is to reduce friction between the articul ...
of the knees. They are called mucoproteins because the carbohydrate quantity is more than 4% unlike glycoproteins where the carbohydrate quantity is less than 4%. Mucoprotein is produced in the cecum of the gastrointestinal tract. During gallbladder cancer, mucoprotein is over expressed. Sustaining a
brain injury
Brain injury (BI) is the destruction or degeneration of brain cells. Brain injuries occur due to a wide range of internal and external factors. In general, brain damage refers to significant, undiscriminating trauma-induced damage.
A common ...
will lead to decreased mucoprotein production. The result is an alteration of
gut microbiota
Gut microbiota, gut microbiome, or gut flora are the microorganisms, including bacteria, archaea, fungi, and viruses, that live in the digestive tracts of animals. The gastrointestinal metagenome is the aggregate of all the genomes of the g ...
as seen in mice.
Function
Mucoproteins are the proteins that are the building blocks of
mucus
Mucus (, ) is a slippery aqueous secretion produced by, and covering, mucous membranes. It is typically produced from cells found in mucous glands, although it may also originate from mixed glands, which contain both Serous fluid, serous and muc ...
, which is a protective barrier to the
epithelia of cells. It is semipermeable, so it acts as a barrier to most bacteria and pathogens, while allowing for the uptake of
nutrients
A nutrient is a substance used by an organism to survive, grow and reproduce. The requirement for dietary nutrient intake applies to animals, plants, fungi and protists. Nutrients can be incorporated into cells for metabolic purposes or excret ...
,
water
Water is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula . It is a transparent, tasteless, odorless, and Color of water, nearly colorless chemical substance. It is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known liv ...
, and
hormones
A hormone (from the Greek participle , "setting in motion") is a class of signaling molecules in multicellular organisms that are sent to distant organs or tissues by complex biological processes to regulate physiology and behavior. Hormones a ...
.
Protein Structure
Mucoproteins are composed of o-linked carbohydrates as well as
highly glycosylated proteins, which are held together by
disulfide bonds
In chemistry, a disulfide (or disulphide in British English) is a compound containing a functional group or the anion. The linkage is also called an SS-bond or sometimes a disulfide bridge and usually derived from two thiol groups.
In in ...
.
The viscosity of the mucus depends on the strength of the disulfide bonds. When these disulfide bonds are broken, the viscosity of the mucus secretions is reduced.
Clinical Significance
Mucolytic medications will break through the disulfide bonds and lower the viscosity of the mucus, thus allowing the hypersecreted mucus to be more manageable. A hypersectretion of mucus is often a symptom of
pulmonary diseases or
respiratory infections.
There are two subgroups in mycolytic medications and each one works differently to control the hypersecreted mucus.
* Classic mucolytic medications these medications change the disulfide bond by
reducing it to a
thiol
In organic chemistry, a thiol (; ), or thiol derivative, is any organosulfur compound of the form , where R represents an alkyl or other organic substituent. The functional group itself is referred to as either a thiol group or a sulfhydryl grou ...
bond, thus thoroughly breaking down the mucoproteins and making the mucus more manageable.
* Peptide mucolytic medications these medications depolymerize
DNA polymer and
F-actin links that are present when the mucus hypersecretes. This preserves the mucins that are helpful to the epithelial tissue of the lungs.
References
Bibliography
*
*
*
*
*
*
External links
*
{{Glycoproteins
Glycoproteins