Which statement is correctly matched with mucin type?

• A. Glycoproteins – Epithelial mucins
• B. Hylauronic acid – Epithelial mucins
• C. Chondroitin sulfate – Epithelial mucins
• D. Sulfated mucosubstances – Epithelial mucins

Answer: (A)

Mucin types are defined by what the molecules are made of. Epithelial mucins are glycoproteins—large protein backbones that are heavily sugar-coated. This glycoprotein nature gives mucins their characteristic gel-forming, hydrated mucus that protects and lubricates surfaces like the lining of the gut and airways.

In contrast, hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate are glycosaminoglycans, not mucins. They’re mucosubstances found in connective tissue and mucus but do not have the protein-rich backbone that defines mucins. Sulfated mucosubstances is a broad category that includes these GAGs, again not the glycoprotein mucins. Therefore, the correct pairing is glycoproteins with epithelial mucins.