MUC2 monoclonal antibody

Mucins are a family of large glycoproteins that create the structural component of mucus. Mucus functions as a blockade against pathogenic invasion and physical injury to the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urogenital tracts . Mucins create a protective layer for epithelial cells as either membrane-bound (MUC1, MUC3, MUC16, and MUC17) or secreted (MUC2, MUC5AC, and MUC19) proteins. MUC2, or mucin-2, the main O-glycosylated protein found in mucus, is secreted by goblet cells. The structure of MUC2 contains cysteine-rich N- and C-terminal domains along with a protein core made up of heavily O-glycosylated mucin domains. The high levels of O-glycosylation along with disulfide bonding make MUC2 resistant to proteolytic cleavage . Mucin expression and glycan structure changes occur in cancers of the intestine and impact the development and progression of these cancers . The presence of MUC2 in the mucous layer of the colon helps prevent ulcerative colitis (UC) by inhibiting the invasion of bacteria .