Mucins or mucus glycoproteins are the main macromolecular components of mammalian mucus. It was also used in a study to evaluate the sputum smears concentrated by cyto-centrifugation for detection of acid-fast bacilli.

Mucus forms the protective cover for all epithelial surfaces. The major structural component of mucus is gel-forming mucins. The mucu layer covering the intestinal epithelium has the MUC2 mucin as its central molecule. MUC2 is produced by goblet cells.

Mucin from porcine stomach was used in studies on the binding site of the galactose-specific agglutinin PA-IL from Pseudomonas aeruginosa.