Which mucin type is stained by mucicarmine staining?

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Multiple Choice

Which mucin type is stained by mucicarmine staining?

Explanation:
Mucicarmine staining is used to identify acidic mucins. The carmine-alum dye binds to mucopolysaccharides that carry negative charges, such as sulfomucins and sialomucins, giving them a red color. Neutral mucins don’t have these acidic groups, so they don’t take up the stain. Glycogen is a carbohydrate storage molecule and isn’t the target of mucicarmine, which is why it isn’t stained. So the stain highlights acidic mucin best.

Mucicarmine staining is used to identify acidic mucins. The carmine-alum dye binds to mucopolysaccharides that carry negative charges, such as sulfomucins and sialomucins, giving them a red color. Neutral mucins don’t have these acidic groups, so they don’t take up the stain. Glycogen is a carbohydrate storage molecule and isn’t the target of mucicarmine, which is why it isn’t stained. So the stain highlights acidic mucin best.

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