The use of high-voltage paper electrophoresis in studies of the biosynthesis of mucin glycoproteins

The mammalian respiratory tract produces a secretion in which the major macromolecular components are mucin-type glycoproteins. High-voltage paper electrophoresis has proved a valuable research tool in studies of the formation of these glycoproteins. Separations of hexoses, amino sugars, oligosaccharides, sugar nucleotides and mucin glycoproteins are rapidly and easily obtained by paper electrophoresis at voltages of 50 to 100 V/cm. The use of high-voltage paper electrophoresis to follow amino sugars interconversions and the transfer of glycosyl units to mucin acceptors is described.