Mucin is used in a study to investigate a galactose-specific lectin from the red marine alga Ptilota filicina. Mucin from bovine submaxillary glands has also been used in a study to investigate the characterization of a unique mucin-like glycoprotein secreted by a human endometrial adenocarcinoma cell line, neuraminidase substrate.
Mucin from bovine submaxillary glands is encoded by two bovine submaxillary BSM genes. It is present in the saliva and interacts with air and food. Mucin comprises three major domains namely N- and C terminal and the glycosylated proline, threonine and serine (PTS domain) central domain. The sialic acid contributes to 30% of the molecular weight of mucin. The central domain has many tandem repeats.
Bovine submaxillary mucin (BSM) is thermally stable up to 85°C. The terminal domain regions are key for the adsorption functionality of mucin.
