User:Rodr3516/Mucoprotein

Function
Mucoproteins are the proteins that make up mucus, which serves as a protective barrier to the epithelia of cells. It is semipermeable, so it acts as a barrier to most bacteria and pathogens, while allowing for the uptake of nutrients, water, and hormones.

Protein Structure
Mucoproteins are composed of o-linked carbohydrates as well as highly glycosylated proteins, which are held together by disulfide bonds. The viscosity of the mucus depends on the strength of the disulfide bonds. When these disulfide bonds are broken, the viscosity of the mucus secretions is reduced.

Clinical Significance
Mucolytic medications will break through the disufide bonds and lower the viscosity of the mucus, thus allowing the hypersecreted mucus to bemore managable. A hypersectretion of mucus is often a symptom of pulmonary diseases or respiratory infections.

There are two subgroups in mycolytic medications and each one works differently to control the hypersecreted mucus.


 * Classic mucolytic medications these medications change the disulfide bond by reducing it to a thiol bond, thus thoroughly breaking down the mucoproteins and making the mucus more managable.


 * Peptide mucolytic medications these medications depolymerize DNA polymer and F-actin links that are present when the mucus hypersecretes. This preserves the mucins that are helpful to the epithelial tissue of the lungs.