muc 15

Mucin-15 is a single-pass type I membrane protein member of the Mucin family. Mucins are a family of high molecular weight, heavily glycosylated proteins (glycoconjugates) produced by epithelial tissues in most metazoans. A key characteristic of Mucins is their ability to form gels. Therefore they are a key component in most gel-like secretions, serving functions from lubrication to cell signalling to forming chemical barriers. Mucin-15 is expressed in many tissues. Mucin-15 is highly glycosylated (N- and O-linked carbohydrates). Mucin-15 may play a role in the cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix.

Mucin-1, is a membrane-bound protein that is a member of the mucin family. Mucins are O-glycosylated proteins that play an essential role in forming protective mucous barriers on epithelial surfaces. These proteins also play a role in intracellular signaling. This protein is expressed on the apical surface of epithelial cells that line the mucosal surfaces of many different tissues including lung, breast stomach and pancreas. MUC-1 exclusively located in the apical domain of the plasma membrane of highly polarized epithelial cells. MUC-1 can act both as an adhesion and an anti-adhesion protein. This protein may provide a protective layer on epithelial cells against bacterial and enzyme attack. MUC-1 participated in modulates signaling in ERK, SRC and NF-kappa-B pathways. In activated T-cells, MUC-1 influences directly or indirectly the Ras MAPK pathway. MUC-1 promotes tumor progression and regulates TP53-mediated transcription and determines cell fate in the genotoxic stress response.

MUC1, the transmembrane glycoprotein Mucin 1, is usually found to be overexpressed in a variety of epithelial cancers playing an important role in disease progression. MUC1 isoforms such as MUC1 Y, which lacks the entire variable number of tandem repeat region, are involved in oncogenic processes by enhancing tumour initiation. MUC1 Y is therefore considered a promising target for the identification and treatment of epithelial cancers.