Biochemistry and Lectin Binding Properties of Mammalian Salivary Mucous Glycoproteins

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Abstract
Mucus is a complex exocrine secretion that covers the epithelial linings of higher animals. This secretion is derived from different types of epithelial glands which are composed of a variety of specialized cells. Consequently, tear, sputum, saliva, gastric juice, colonic and cervical mucus are all composed of a heterogeneous mixture of secretory products. Salivary mucus is produced by several glands (Table I). The bulk of it is derived from three main organ glands, namely the parotid which is serous in nature, the submandibular which contains both mucous and serous type acini, and the predominantly mucus secreting sublingual gland (1–5). In addition, numerous so-called minor salivary glands are dispersed throughout the oral soft tissue (6,7). These labial glands are composed mainly of mucous secreting cells, and consequently are a major source of the total mucins in saliva although they comprise only some 10% of the salivary volume produced daily. Mixed salivary secretions contain some 99.5% water; the remainder is made up of glycocon jugates, lipids, proteins, ions and small metabolites (8–12) . Due to its great variety of components, saliva plays multiple physiological roles.

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