Chapter 10

Mucin MUC8

Joseph Z. Zaretsky and Daniel H. Wreschner

Abstract

Glycoprotein MUC8, one of the less studied mucins, belongs to the group of soluble mucins. Its cDNA is only partially cloned. Like other mucins, MUC8 has a tandem repeat containing domain, but in contrast to other mucins, which have, as a rule, only one type of repeats, the MUC8 mucin has two types of repeats: one of 13 amino acids and another one containing 41 amino acid residues. The MUC8 gene is localized on human chromosome 12q24.3. MUC8 mucin appears to serve a ciliated cell marker. Regulation of MUC8 gene expression has been studied and some regulatory pathways have been identified. MUC8 mucin plays a major role in the airway mucosa and its over-expression and hypersecretion are associated with airway inflammatory diseases.

Total Pages: 418-424 (7)

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