Which of the following is an example of a strongly sulfated mucin?

• A. Chondroitin sulfate
• B. Mucin
• C. Glycogen
• D. Hyaluronic acid

Answer: (A)

Strongly sulfated mucins are acidic mucins that carry multiple sulfate groups on their carbohydrate chains, giving them a high degree of sulfation. Chondroitin sulfate is a sulfated glycosaminoglycan, rich in sulfate groups, and is characteristic of strongly sulfated mucin components. This sulfation sets it apart from the other options: plain mucin refers to the mucin glycoprotein itself without implying strong sulfation; glycogen is a glucose polymer with no sulfates; hyaluronic acid is a glycosaminoglycan that is typically unsulfated. Because of its pronounced sulfation, chondroitin sulfate best represents a strongly sulfated mucin.