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(A) Structure function relationships of mucus gel secretions: the role of specific mucin gene products

Reference	JE514305
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Jeff Pearson
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Professor A Allen
Institution	Newcastle University
Department	School of Cell and Molecular Biosciences
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	13,500
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	13/03/2001
End date	13/09/2001
Duration	6 months

Abstract

Mucus gels protect the epithelial surfaces of the gastro-intestinal, genitourinary and respiratory tracts and they are unique in biology being viscoelastic and plastic. Mucins, large molecular weight glycoproteins are the gel forming components of mucus. At present we do not understand the interactions between polymerised mucin molecules which lead to gel formation. Suggestions are of non-covalent interactions between carbohydrate side chains of the mucin molecules or of lectin-like interactions between exposed mucin core protein and carbohydrate chains of adjacent mucins. In all areas so far studied mucus secretions contain more than one mucin gene product and it is not known how these interact to produced the properties of the gel. In this study we will extensively characterise the gel forming interactions by measuring (1) the dynamics of mucus gels under shear stress; and (2) the effects of hydrogen bond, ionic bond, hydrophobic bond breaking agents on the gel. In addition we will separate the individual mucin gene products with specific antibody, affinity columns. Thus allowing the study of the role of individual mucin genes in gel formation and determining gel properties.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Engineering & Biological Systems (EBS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	Joint Equipment Initiative 2000 (JE5) [2000]
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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