mucoprotein

biochemistry

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 1, 2026

Quick Summary

Mucoproteins are complex conjugated proteins that contain polysaccharides. They are also referred to as mucoids. These proteins are found in body fluids and tissues.12

Mucoproteins are characterized by the presence of oligosaccharides, which are carbohydrates made up of a small number of sugar molecules. Common sugars found in mucoproteins include galactose, mannose, glucosamine, and galactosamine.3

These viscous proteins, originally called mucins, are present in various animal secretions such as saliva and gastric juice. They are also found in significant amounts in cartilage, synovial fluid, and egg white. For instance, the mucoprotein in cartilage is a combination of collagen and chondroitinsulfuric acid.3

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

protein
Mucoproteins and glycoproteins
The prosthetic groups in mucoproteins and glycoproteins are oligosaccharides (carbohydrates consisting of a small number of simple sugar molecules) usually containing from four to 12 sugar molecules; the most common sugars are galactose, mannose, glucosamine, and galactosamine. Xylose, fucose, glucuronic acid, sialic…
Read More
The prosthetic groups in mucoproteins and glycoproteins are oligosaccharides (carbohydrates consisting of a small number of simple sugar molecules) usually containing from four to 12 sugar molecules; the most common sugars are galactose, mannose, glucosamine, and galactosamine. Xylose, fucose, glucuronic acid, sialic…
Read More