Explorative investigation of MUC7 expression in oral tissues
Date
2006
DOI
Authors
Almohaisen, Ahmed
Version
OA Version
Citation
Abstract
Mucus serves several protective functions within the human body , such as hydrating the
epithelium and trapping foreign substances for removal. The key components of mucus are
glycoproteins which are also known as mucins. Mucins are currently defined as proteins whose
mass consists 50% or more of O-linked oligosaccharides. There are two forms of mucins ,
membrane-associated mucins and secreted mucins. The two forms vary in their structure and
their function. Membrane-associated mucins are hydrophobic and therefore do not form
oligomeric complexes. However, secreted mucins , also known as gel-forming mucins , are
commonly found in oligomeric complexes with molecular weights greater than 40 million
Daltons. Subunits in these oligomers are linked to one another via disulfide bonds. Secreted
mucins give mucus its sticky consistency and help it to serve as a first line of defense in the
body. While membrane-associated and secreted mucins vary in both structure and function , they
share several common structural features .
MUC7 is small secreted mucin , which exists solely as a monomer, and it is
predominately expressed in the submandibular and sublingual glands. It has different functions,
both immune and non-immune. It is thought that MUC7 may exist in other oral tissues to
perform similar functions or different ones. Thus the aim of this study is to investigate the
validity of this hypothesis.
Description
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Thesis (MSD)--Boston University, Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (Prosthodontics).
Includes bibliographical references: leaves 30-40.
Thesis (MSD)--Boston University, Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (Prosthodontics).
Includes bibliographical references: leaves 30-40.
License
This work is protected by copyright. Downloading is restricted to the BU community. If you are the author of this work and would like to make it publicly available, please contact open-help@bu.edu.