Rheology of gastric mucin exhibits a pH-dependent sol-gel transition.
Gastric mucin, a high molecular weight glycoprotein, is responsible for providing the gel-forming properties and protective function of the gastric mucus layer. Bulk rheology measurements in the linear viscoelastic regime show that gastric mucin undergoes a pH-dependent sol-gel transition from a viscoelastic solution at neutral pH to a soft viscoelastic gel in acidic conditions, with the transition occurring near pH 4. In addition to pH-dependent gelation behavior in this system, further rheological studies under nonlinear deformations reveal shear thinning and an apparent yield stress in this material which are also highly influenced by pH.
Celli
Jonathan P
JP
Department of Physics, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA.
Turner
Bradley S
BS
Afdhal
Nezam H
NH
Ewoldt
Randy H
RH
McKinley
Gareth H
GH
Bansil
Rama
R
Erramilli
Shyamsunder
S
D000818:Animals; D005752:Gastric Mucins / Q000737:chemistry*; D005782:Gels / Q000737:chemistry; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D044367:Phase Transition; D012212:Rheology; D013552:Swine / Q000378:metabolism
D005752:Gastric Mucins; D005782:Gels