On the role of sialic acid in the rheological properties of mucus.
The importance of sialic acid in the rheological properties of mucus has been investigated. Both bovine cervical mucus, which is a gel, and the structural glycoprotein derived from it were studied before and after treatment with neuraminidase which selectively cleaves terminal sialic acid residues. The storage modulus, viscosity and circular dichroism spectrum were all essentially changed after removal of the sialic acid. These results would indicate that removal of sialic acid does not affect the physical structure of the glycoprotein and it is concluded that sialic acid has no significant role in the rheological properties of cervical mucus.
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002582:Cervix Mucus / Q000032:analysis*; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D004355:Drug Stability; D004548:Elasticity; D004971:Estrus; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels; D006016:Glycolates; D006023:Glycoproteins; D009439:Neuraminidase; D011247:Pregnancy; D011487:Protein Conformation; D012794:Sialic Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D013997:Time Factors; D014734:Vibrio cholerae / Q000201:enzymology; D014783:Viscosity
D005782:Gels; D006016:Glycolates; D006023:Glycoproteins; D012794:Sialic Acids; D009439:Neuraminidase