Mucin (黏液素)

Mucin is a class of high molecular weight glycoproteins that play crucial roles in protecting and lubricating mucosal surfaces. Mucin is characterized by a large number of O-glycosylated serine and threonine residues. Mucin can be classified into secreted mucins and membrane bounded mucins. For example, MUC1 is often overexpressed in many cancers and can interact with cell surface receptors and extracellular matrix components, affecting cell adhesion, migration and signal transduction. MUC2 is the main component of intestinal mucus, forming a physical barrier to protect the intestinal epithelium from pathogens and toxins. Different mucin subtypes have distinct expression patterns and functions in various tissues and organs. Mucin can also interact with microorganisms, participating in the regulation of the host-microbe interaction^[1][2].