compound introduction
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).
