On the role of sialic acid in the rheolgical properties of mucus

Abstract

The importance of scalic in the rheological propertied of mucus has been investigated. Both bovine cervicak mucus, which is a gel, and the structural glycoprotein derived from it were studied before and after treatment with neuraminidase which selectivity cleaves terminal sialic acid residues. The storage modulus, viscosity and circular dichroism spectrum were all essentially unchanged after removal of the sialic acid. These results would indicated 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. © 1975.