Mucins and mucoproteins (MUC) (MUC)

Mucins are a family of high-molecular-weight, heavily glycosylated proteins that serve as the primary structural components of mucus, a viscoelastic gel coating epithelial surfaces (Wikipedia, 2024). They are categorized into secreted (gel-forming) and membrane-bound types, playing essential roles in lubrication, hydration, and providing a physical and chemical barrier against pathogens and toxins (NIH, 2022). Structurally, mucins consist of a protein backbone rich in serine and threonine residues, which are extensively O-glycosylated to form a brush-like architecture (NIH, 2022). In respiratory diseases like cystic fibrosis and COPD, mucin hypersecretion and altered cross-linking lead to airway obstruction and chronic infection (StatPearls, 2023). In oncology, aberrant mucin expression and glycosylation (e.g., MUC1, MUC16) are hallmarks of epithelial cancers, contributing to tumor progression, metastasis, and drug resistance (PubMed, 2023). Therapeutic interventions include mucolytic agents that break down the mucin network to improve clearance and emerging targeted therapies that inhibit mucin production or secretion in cancer and inflammatory conditions (NIH, 2024). These proteins also serve as critical biomarkers for disease progression and treatment efficacy in both respiratory and oncological settings (Creative Biogene, 2024).

Other names

Mucins and other mucoproteins in mucus/viscous secretionsMucus glycoproteinsMucoproteinsMUC proteinsGel-forming mucinsMembrane-bound mucins

Reduction of disulfide bonds in mucin polymers, enzymatic degradation of extracellular DNA and actin in secretions, modulation of mucin gene expression and secretion, and antibody-mediated targeting of membrane-bound mucins in cancer.