On the structure of mucus glycoproteins: 1H n.m.r. nuclear Overhauser enhancement study

Abstract

Glycoproteins stemming from gastric intestinal mucus are investigated by means of 2D nuclear Overhauser enhancement measurements. Thereby, the results are best understood, if one assumes that the glycoprotein is arranged in well defined tertiary structures. The lifetimes of these structures are unknown, but have to be at least in the range necessary to build up a cross relaxation. Moreover, this structural behaviour also depends on the actual pH values, as the n.m.r. results change with a variation of the pH.