Uses and Misuses of Bases in Studies of Glycoproteins

The mucous glycoproteins are the components of the mucous secretions of the internal passages of higher animals that cause the high viscosity of the secretions, and they may be responsible for many immunological phenomena. Although the number of highly purified mucus glycoproteins is still limited, evidence suggests that they are tissue and species specific in their composition and reactions. They seem to be related closely to the glycoproteins and glycolipids of cell membranes. In the development of their structures, the use of alkalies has provided valuable information but improperly used has caused several misinterpretations. The glycoproteins are composed of a protein core to which are attached numerous oligosaccharides. Studies of the primary structure of bovine submaxillary glycoprotein show that it consists of many covalently bound repetitive sequences of short peptides of similar composition. Other mucus glycoproteins seem to have similar primary structures for the protein core.