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. 2011 May 20;3(5):613–636. doi: 10.3390/nu3050613

Table 1.

Known human MUC genes, their functions and locations.

Gene Organisms with known homologues 1 Function 2 GeneAtlas location of highest expression 2 Type Selected references
MUC1 Dog, cow, mouse, rat, rabbit Cellular signal transduction, barrier activity Lungs Membrane [13,14]
MUC2 Chimpanzee, dog, chicken Primary extracellular matrix constituent in colon, lubricant activity Colon Secretory [14,15]
MUC3A Rat, mouse Involved in epithelial cell protection, adhesion modulation, and signaling Various Membrane [16]
MUC3B Rat, mouse Unknown, possibly cellular signal transduction Various Membrane [16]
MUC4 Many mammals, chicken, frog, platypus Involved in intestinal epithelial cell differentiation, renewal, lubrication Colon Membrane [17,18]
MUC5B (MUC9) Chimpanzee, zebrafish, mouse, chicken, more Unknown, primarily lubricant Various Secretory [19,20]
MUC5AC Chimpanzee, rat, zebrafish Major component of airway mucus involved in intestinal epithelial cell differentiation Trachea, Lungs Secretory [21,22]
MUC6 Chimpanzee, dog, mouse, chicken Unknown, involved in renal morphogenesis processes Pancreas, digestive and reproductive systems Secretory [22,23,24]
MUC7 Chimpanzee, cow, rat Facilitating the clearance of oral bacteria Salivary Gland Secretory [25,26]
MUC8 Unknown Unknown Trachea Secretory [27]
MUC12 (MUC11) Cow, M.grisea, N. crassa, rice May be involved in epithelial cell regulation Colon Membrane [28]
MUC13 Chimpanzee, dog, mouse, rat Barrier function in epithelial tissues Pancreas, small intestine, colon Membrane [29]
EMCN (MUC14) Dog, cow, mouse, rat, chicken Interferes with the assembly of focal adhesion complexes Fetal lung, uterus, thyroid Membrane [30]
MUC15 Chimpanzee, cow, mouse, rat Barrier function in epithelial tissues Testis leydig cell Membrane [31]
MUC16 (CA125) Chimpanzee, dog, mouse, chicken Unknown, plays a role in ovarian cancer Lymph nodes, respiratory tract Membrane [32,33]
MUC17 (MUC3) Chimpanzee, S. pombe, S. cerevisiae, and K. lactis Extracellular matrix constituent, lubricant activity Small intestine, stomach Membrane [34,35]
MCAM (MUC18, CD146) Chimpanzee, dog, mouse, rat, zebrafish AKA “melanoma cell adhesion molecule”, cell-cell adhesion Various Membrane [36,37]
MUC19 Chimpanzee, dog, mouse, rat, frog Major gel-forming mucin in the human middle ear Secretory cells of the ears and eyes Secretory [38]
MUC20 Chimpanzee, dog, cow, mouse, rat Cellular signal transduction Intestine, respiratory and urinary tract Membrane [39]
MUC21 Chimpanzee, cow, mosquito, and A. thaliana Unknown, mediates cell adhesion Unknown Membrane [40,41]
CD164 (MUC24) Chimpanzee, dog, cow, mouse, rat, chicken, zebrafish Regulates stem cell localization to the bone marrow Thyroid, placenta, intestine, immune cells Membrane [42]

1 Via HomoloGene [43] database; 2 via GenAtlas [44] and BioGPS [45] databases.