Mucus glycoproteins functions

Sialidases require a negatively charged carboxyl function on the a-linked sialic acid-containing substrate for catalytic activity. V. cholerae sialidase did not cleave the sialic acid methyl esters of bovine submandibular gland mucus glycoproteins (Gottschalk 1962) or IPNeu5AcLac (Kuhn / al 1966). In colominic acid, esters... 

Campbell, B.J., Biochemical and Functional Aspects of Mucus and Mucin-type Glycoproteins. In Bioadhesive Drug Delivery Systems (E. Mathiowitz, D.E. Chickering, lit, and C.-M. Lehr, eds.) Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, 1999, pp. 85-130. 

Campbell, B. J. Biochemical and functional aspects of mucus and mucin-type glycoproteins, in Bioadhesive Drug Delivery Systems Fundamentals, Novel Approaches, and Development. New York Marcel Dekker, 1999. 

Three of the cell types in the epithelium have secretory functions. These cells are the mucous (goblet) cells, serous cells, and Clara cells. These cells contribute to the secretion of airway mucus, a complex mixture of water, glycoproteins, immunoglobulins, lipids, and salts. The secretion of mucus is a defense function that contributes to the removal of foreign objects from lung airways via the mucociliary transport process, as described in later sections of this chapter. Excess mucus secretion can be detrimental, however, since it can obstruct the movement of air through the airways and is a component of certain pulmonary diseases such as asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and cystic fibrosis. A hypertrophy of secretory cells in the epithelial layer of the airways is often characteristic of these diseases. 

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