MUC2
Encyclopedia
Mucin 2, oligomeric mucus/gel-forming, also known as MUC2, is a protein
that in humans is encoded by the MUC2 gene
.
protein family. The protein encoded by this gene, also called mucin 2, is secreted onto mucosal surfaces.
Mucin 2 is particularly prominent in the gut where it is secreted from goblet cells in the epithelial lining
into the lumen of the large intestine
. There, mucin 2, along with small amounts of related-mucin proteins, polymerizes into a gel of which 80% by weight is oligosaccharide
side-chains that are added as post-translational modifications to the mucin proteins. This gel provides an insoluble mucous barrier that serves to protect the intestinal epithelium
.
and proline
that varies between 50 and 115 copies in different individuals. Alternatively spliced transcript variants of this gene have been described, but their full-length nature is not known.
Protein
Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
that in humans is encoded by the MUC2 gene
Gene
A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...
.
Function
This gene encodes a member of the mucinMucin
Mucins are a family of high molecular weight, heavily glycosylated proteins produced by epithelial tissues in most metazoans. Mucins' key characteristic is their ability to form gels; therefore they are a key component in most gel-like secretions, serving functions from lubrication to cell...
protein family. The protein encoded by this gene, also called mucin 2, is secreted onto mucosal surfaces.
Mucin 2 is particularly prominent in the gut where it is secreted from goblet cells in the epithelial lining
Epithelium
Epithelium is one of the four basic types of animal tissue, along with connective tissue, muscle tissue and nervous tissue. Epithelial tissues line the cavities and surfaces of structures throughout the body, and also form many glands. Functions of epithelial cells include secretion, selective...
into the lumen of the large intestine
Large intestine
The large intestine is the third-to-last part of the digestive system — — in vertebrate animals. Its function is to absorb water from the remaining indigestible food matter, and then to pass useless waste material from the body...
. There, mucin 2, along with small amounts of related-mucin proteins, polymerizes into a gel of which 80% by weight is oligosaccharide
Oligosaccharide
An oligosaccharide is a saccharide polymer containing a small number of component sugars, also known as simple sugars...
side-chains that are added as post-translational modifications to the mucin proteins. This gel provides an insoluble mucous barrier that serves to protect the intestinal epithelium
Intestinal epithelium
The intestinal epithelium is the epithelium that covers the small and large intestine. It is simple columnar and nonciliated.They primarily take part in the digestive system. However, they also express TLR 4 receptors, and are thus a part of the immune system, both as a barrier and as a first-line...
.
Genetics
The mucin 2 protein features a central domain containing tandem repeats rich in threonineThreonine
Threonine is an α-amino acid with the chemical formula HO2CCHCHCH3. Its codons are ACU, ACA, ACC, and ACG. This essential amino acid is classified as polar...
and proline
Proline
Proline is an α-amino acid, one of the twenty DNA-encoded amino acids. Its codons are CCU, CCC, CCA, and CCG. It is not an essential amino acid, which means that the human body can synthesize it. It is unique among the 20 protein-forming amino acids in that the α-amino group is secondary...
that varies between 50 and 115 copies in different individuals. Alternatively spliced transcript variants of this gene have been described, but their full-length nature is not known.