Further evidence for a flexible and highly expanded spheroidal model for mucus glycoproteins in solution

Abstract

The flexible and greatly expanded roughly spherical model for mucus glycoproteins proposed earlier, on the basis of hydrodynamic and n.m.r. data, is supported by new hydrodynamic results on a bronchial glycoprotein from a cystic-fibrosis patient. Furthermore, images from electron microscopy of this molecule and a lower-molecular-weight mucus glycoprotein (which closely resembles a glycopolypeptide) appear to be at least consistent with this model.