Mucoids composition

Although exopolysaccharides do not normaUy have a structural role, they do form structures that can be detected by either light or electron microscopy. Exopolysaccharides may form part of a capsule closely attached to the microbial surface, or appear as loose slime secreted by the cell but not directly attached to it Exopolysaccharide producing cells usually form mucoid colonies on solid media and liquid cultures of these cells may become very viscous. However, growth conditions can influence the composition, physical properties and organisation of exopolysaccharide. 

Masamune and associates (4) have provided some information concerning the nature of the combinations in other types of mucoproteins and of the proteins in the combinations. The mucoproteins of cartilage (chondro-mucoid) and of umbilical cord (funis mucin), removed from the tissues by aqueous extraction, are precipitated at pH 2 to 3. When the precipitated mucoproteins were extracted with solutions over the range pH 1 to 4, the composition of the residue did not remain constant evidently the ratios of protein to carbohydrate in the mucoproteins are dependent upon the pH. Tendomucoid (from tendon) and osseomucoid (from bones) appear to be similar if not identical to chondromucoid. 

Anion-exchange chromatography has been used to separate sugar-borate complexes of D-mannose, L-fucose, D-galactose, D-glucose, D-xylose, L-arabinose, 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-mannose, 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-galactose, l-dcoxy-Ji-arabino-hexose, 2-deoxy-D-/yx u-hexose, and lactose. This technique was used to study the composition of the carbohydrate moieties of ovomucoid, lichenin, and Collocalia mucoid. 

Kathan, R. H., and Weeks, I. D., 1969, Structural studies of collocalia mucoid. I. Carbohydrate and amino acid composition. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 134 572. 

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