Details for: MUC15

Gene ID: 143662

Gene Type:  Protein-coding  - A gene that serves as a template for producing a messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule, which is then translated into a functional protein.

Symbol: MUC15

Ensembl ID: ENSG00000169550

Description: mucin 15, cell surface associated

Cell Significance Landscape

Associated with

Significant Cells

Cell Significance Index (CSI) scores for the chosen context(s)

  • multi-ciliated epithelial cell CL0005012
    CSI 14.69
    rCSI 14.66%
    PRS 93.28
  • lung ciliated cell CL1000271
    CSI 13.54
    rCSI 15.66%
    PRS 93.4
  • placental villous trophoblast CL2000060
    CSI 7.74
    rCSI 11.95%
    PRS 95.41
  • ciliated epithelial cell CL0000067
    CSI 6.55
    rCSI 5.76%
    PRS 91.47
  • ciliated cell CL0000064
    CSI 6.44
    rCSI 10.43%
    PRS 92.24
  • kidney connecting tubule epithelial cell CL1000768
    CSI 5.8
    rCSI 14.72%
    PRS 93.75
  • epithelial cell of lower respiratory tract CL0002632
    CSI 5.64
    rCSI 4.37%
    PRS 97.95
  • squamous epithelial cell CL0000076
    CSI 4.58
    rCSI 10.87%
    PRS 93.21
  • secretory cell CL0000151
    CSI 4.34
    rCSI 4.53%
    PRS 96.1
  • duct epithelial cell CL0000068
    CSI 3.99
    rCSI 5.84%
    PRS 98.07
  • acinar cell CL0000622
    CSI 3.84
    rCSI 5.63%
    PRS 98.26
  • epithelial cell CL0000066
    CSI 3.7
    rCSI 5.68%
    PRS 88.32
  • nasal mucosa goblet cell CL0002480
    CSI 3.5
    rCSI 4.05%
    PRS 96.03
  • ciliated columnar cell of tracheobronchial tree CL0002145
    CSI 3.1
    rCSI 7.07%
    PRS 91.74
  • kidney loop of Henle thin descending limb epithelial cell CL1001111
    CSI 3.06
    rCSI 4.34%
    PRS 95.57
  • keratinocyte CL0000312
    CSI 2.88
    rCSI 2.41%
    PRS 95.94
  • conjunctival epithelial cell CL1000432
    CSI 2.34
    rCSI 3.57%
    PRS 95.7
  • syncytiotrophoblast cell CL0000525
    CSI 2.33
    rCSI 6.7%
    PRS 96.05
  • melanocyte of skin CL1000458
    CSI 2.3
    rCSI 3.13%
    PRS 76.2
  • kidney loop of Henle thin ascending limb epithelial cell CL1001107
    CSI 2.22
    rCSI 5.73%
    PRS 95.3
  • kidney loop of Henle thick ascending limb epithelial cell CL1001106
    CSI 2.04
    rCSI 17.63%
    PRS 93.19
  • basal cell of epidermis CL0002187
    CSI 1.88
    rCSI 3.33%
    PRS 75.49
  • corneal epithelial cell CL0000575
    CSI 1.79
    rCSI 5.12%
    PRS 96.6
  • acinar cell of salivary gland CL0002623
    CSI 1.45
    rCSI 33.72%
    PRS 98.25
  • mammary gland epithelial cell CL0002327
    CSI 1.13
    rCSI 3.95%
    PRS 98.11

Cell ID: Standard Cell Ontology term used for mapping and comparing cells across experiments. Ensures consistency in analyzing cellular functions across tissues.
Fold Change: Represents the ratio of the current Cell Significance Index to the Cell Significance Index Threshold, indicating how much the gene expression has changed compared to a baseline.
Cell Significance Index: Reflects how strongly a gene is expressed in this specific cell.

Cell ID: Standard Cell Ontology term used for mapping and comparing cells across experiments. Ensures consistency in analyzing cellular functions across tissues.
Fold Change: Represents the ratio of the current Cell Significance Index to the Cell Significance Index Threshold, indicating how much the gene expression has changed compared to a baseline.
Cell Significance Index: Reflects how strongly a gene is expressed in this cell type. Calculated using techniques like effect size estimation and bootstrapping for reliability.

Cell ID: Standard Cell Ontology term used for mapping and comparing cells across experiments. Ensures consistency in analyzing cellular functions across tissues.
Fold Change: Represents the ratio of the current Cell Significance Index to the Cell Significance Index Threshold, indicating how much the gene expression has changed compared to a baseline.
Cell Significance Index: Reflects how strongly a gene is expressed in this cell type. Calculated using techniques like effect size estimation and bootstrapping for reliability.
Network Configuration

Explore relationships of the current gene. Select an Interaction Source: 'ONTOLOGY' for shared pathways (GO/Reactome) or 'STRING' for protein-protein interactions. Further refine by selecting context genes and comparing Cell Significance Index (CSI) scores between baseline and target cell types and their specific contexts.

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Comma-separated if multiple.
Legend:
  • Query Gene
  • Node Color (Target Cell CSI, relative to current network):
    • Very High
    • High
    • Medium
    • Low
    • Very Low
    • CSI N/A
  • Node Size: Proportional to Target Cell CSI magnitude
  • STRING PPI Edge
  • Shared Pathway Edge (ONTOLOGY)

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Other Information

This section provides additional information about the gene, including a description generated by an AI language model and details about associated proteins.

## Summary [MUC15](/details-gene/143662) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 11p14.2 that encodes Mucin-15, a cell surface-associated mucin. As a member of the mucin family, it is characterized by extensive O-glycosylation and is localized to the [plasma membrane](/details-cell/GO:0005886) and [extracellular region](/details-cell/GO:0005576). Functional data suggest its involvement in protein binding and the [Innate immune system](/details-cell/R-HSA-168249). **Overall**, expression analysis reveals that [MUC15](/details-gene/143662) is a highly specific marker for various epithelial cell types, with particularly high significance in [multi-ciliated epithelial cell](/details-cell/CL0005012) and [lung ciliated cell](/details-cell/CL1000271), suggesting a primary role in mucosal barrier function and protection in tissues such as the respiratory tract and kidney. Its initial characterization as a novel cell membrane-associated mucin was described in 2002 ([Link](https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1432-1033.2002.02949.x)). ## Cellular Roles and Expression Landscape The expression profile of [MUC15](/details-gene/143662) points to a specialized role within epithelial tissues, particularly those involved in fluid transport and barrier functions. **Overall**, the gene shows its highest significance in ciliated cells, including [multi-ciliated epithelial cell](/details-cell/CL0005012) (CSI: 14.69) and [lung ciliated cell](/details-cell/CL1000271) (CSI: 13.54), underscoring its potential importance in the mucociliary clearance mechanism of the respiratory tract. Its high expression is also notable in other specialized epithelial contexts, such as the [placental villous trophoblast](/details-cell/CL2000060) (CSI: 7.74), which forms the primary maternal-fetal interface, and various kidney epithelial cells, including [kidney connecting tubule epithelial cell](/details-cell/CL1000768) (CSI: 5.80) and [kidney loop of Henle thin descending limb epithelial cell](/details-cell/CL1001111) (CSI: 3.06). This pattern suggests a conserved role in protecting epithelial surfaces across diverse organs. Furthermore, significant expression in secretory and ductal cells, such as [secretory cell](/details-cell/CL0000151) (CSI: 4.34), [acinar cell](/details-cell/CL0000622) (CSI: 3.84), and [nasal mucosa goblet cell](/details-cell/CL0002480) (CSI: 3.50), is consistent with its function as a mucin contributing to the protective mucous layer. The collective expression data strongly indicate that [MUC15](/details-gene/143662) is a key component of the epithelial cell surface, likely contributing to lubrication, cell-cell adhesion, and host defense at mucosal barriers. ## Pathways and Molecular Function The functional annotations for [MUC15](/details-gene/143662) are highly consistent with its identity as a mucin. It is primarily involved in processes related to post-translational protein modification, specifically the [O-linked glycosylation of mucins](/details-cell/R-HSA-913709). This is the core biochemical process that defines mucins and is critical for their structure and function. The gene is also linked to broader pathways of the [Metabolism of proteins](/details-cell/R-HSA-392499) and diseases associated with glycosylation, such as [Diseases associated with o-glycosylation of proteins](/details-cell/R-HSA-3906995), highlighting the clinical importance of its proper modification. Intriguingly, [MUC15](/details-gene/143662) is associated with the [Innate immune system](/details-cell/R-HSA-168249), specifically through the [C-type lectin receptors (clrs)](/details-cell/R-HSA-5621481) pathway. C-type lectins are pattern recognition receptors that often bind to carbohydrate structures on pathogens. This suggests that the heavily glycosylated extracellular domain of MUC15 may act as a ligand or a decoy for these immune receptors, or it may directly interact with microbial surfaces. This potential immunomodulatory role is highly relevant given its prominent expression at mucosal surfaces like the respiratory tract, which are in constant contact with the external environment. Its GO annotations confirm its localization to the [plasma membrane](/details-cell/GO:0005886) and its capacity for [protein binding](/details-cell/GO:0005515), reinforcing a model where it functions as a cell-surface sensor or interaction partner. ## Research Directions The specific expression pattern and functional annotations of [MUC15](/details-gene/143662) suggest several avenues for future investigation, particularly concerning its role in host defense and epithelial homeostasis. **Proposed Testable Hypotheses:** 1. Given its high expression in [lung ciliated cell](/details-cell/CL1000271) and its link to C-type lectin receptor pathways, [MUC15](/details-gene/143662) may function as a pattern recognition molecule or an attachment factor for respiratory pathogens (e.g., influenza virus, *Pseudomonas aeruginosa*), thereby modulating the initial stages of infection and innate immune signaling at the airway mucosa. 2. The significant expression of [MUC15](/details-gene/143662) in [placental villous trophoblast](/details-cell/CL2000060) suggests it plays a role in establishing or maintaining the maternal-fetal immune barrier. It could function to shield the fetus from maternal immune attack or prevent ascending microbial infections during pregnancy. 3. In the kidney, its presence in tubular epithelial cells suggests a role in protecting these cells from mechanical stress, infection, or the formation of mineral crystals by providing a lubricating and anti-adhesive surface. **Key Experimental Approach:** To test the hypothesis that [MUC15](/details-gene/143662) acts as a host-pathogen interaction molecule in the respiratory tract, a combination of in vitro and molecular techniques could be employed. One could utilize human bronchial epithelial cells cultured at an air-liquid interface to form a differentiated, ciliated epithelium. CRISPR-Cas9-mediated knockout of [MUC15](/details-gene/143662) in these cells would be performed. The knockout and control cell cultures would then be challenged with a common respiratory pathogen, such as Influenza A virus. The effects on viral binding, entry, and replication would be quantified using immunofluorescence microscopy and RT-qPCR. Furthermore, downstream innate immune activation could be assessed by measuring the secretion of key cytokines (e.g., IFN-β, IL-6) via ELISA and analyzing the expression of interferon-stimulated genes. A significant difference in pathogen load or immune response between the knockout and control cells would provide direct evidence for the role of [MUC15](/details-gene/143662) in airway host defense. **Therapeutic Potential:** As a cell-surface protein highly expressed on specific epithelial tissues, [MUC15](/details-gene/143662) presents potential as a therapeutic target. If it is confirmed to be an essential entry receptor for a major pathogen, a monoclonal antibody or a soluble decoy receptor designed to block this interaction could serve as a novel anti-infective therapy. Conversely, if loss of [MUC15](/details-gene/143662) function is associated with chronic inflammatory diseases of mucosal surfaces (e.g., COPD, inflammatory bowel disease) due to impaired barrier function, therapeutic strategies could focus on upregulating its expression or administering a recombinant, soluble form of the protein to restore the protective mucosal layer.

Genular Protein ID: 2230972923

Symbol: MUC15_HUMAN

Name: Mucin-15

UniProtKB Accession Codes:

Q8N387 B3KY00 E9PII6 F8W945 Q6UWS3 Q8IXI8 Q8WW41

Database IDs:

AGR 1 AlphaFoldDB 1 Antibodypedia 1 Bgee 1 BioGRID 1 BioGRID-ORCS 1 BioMuta 1 CCDS 1 CTD 1 ChiTaRS 1 DMDM 1 DNASU 1 DisGeNET 1 EMBL 7 Ensembl 1 ExpressionAtlas 1 GO 3 GeneCards 1 GeneTree 1 GenomeRNAi 1 GlyCosmos 1 GlyGen 1 HGNC 1 HOGENOM 1 HPA 1 InParanoid 1 IntAct 1 InterPro 1 KEGG 1 MIM 1 MassIVE 1 NCBI Taxonomy 1 OMA 1 OpenTargets 1 OrthoDB 1 PANTHER 2 PRO 1 PathwayCommons 1 PaxDb 1 PeptideAtlas 1 Pfam 1 PharmGKB 1 Pharos 1 PhosphoSitePlus 1 PhylomeDB 1 Proteomes 1 ProteomicsDB 4 RNAct 1 Reactome 6 RefSeq 3 STRING 1 SignaLink 1 TreeFam 1 UCSC 1 VEuPathDB 1 eggNOG 1 iPTMnet 1 neXtProt 1

Citations:

PubMed ID: 12047385

Title: Isolation and characterization of MUC15, a novel cell membrane associated mucin.

PubMed ID: 12047385

DOI: 10.1046/j.1432-1033.2002.02949.x

PubMed ID: 12975309

Title: The secreted protein discovery initiative (SPDI), a large-scale effort to identify novel human secreted and transmembrane proteins: a bioinformatics assessment.

PubMed ID: 12975309

DOI: 10.1101/gr.1293003

PubMed ID: 14702039

Title: Complete sequencing and characterization of 21,243 full-length human cDNAs.

PubMed ID: 14702039

DOI: 10.1038/ng1285

PubMed ID: 16554811

Title: Human chromosome 11 DNA sequence and analysis including novel gene identification.

PubMed ID: 16554811

DOI: 10.1038/nature04632

PubMed ID: 15489334

Title: The status, quality, and expansion of the NIH full-length cDNA project: the Mammalian Gene Collection (MGC).

PubMed ID: 15489334

DOI: 10.1101/gr.2596504

Sequence Information:

  • Length: 334
  • Mass: 36294
  • Checksum: 3CA38EEB40D533F1
  • Sequence:
    • MLALAKILLI STLFYSLLSG SHGKENQDIN TTQNIAEVFK TMENKPISLE SEANLNSDKE 
NITTSNLKAS HSPPLNLPNN SHGITDFSSN SSAEHSLGSL KPTSTISTSP PLIHSFVSKV 
PWNAPIADED LLPISAHPNA TPALSSENFT WSLVNDTVKT PDNSSITVSI LSSEPTSPSV 
TPLIVEPSGW LTTNSDSFTG FTPYQEKTTL QPTLKFTNNS KLFPNTSDPQ KENRNTGIVF 
GAILGAILGV SLLTLVGYLL CGKRKTDSFS HRRLYDDRNE PVLRLDNAPE PYDVSFGNSS 
YYNPTLNDSA MPESEENARD GIPMDDIPPL RTSV

Genular Protein ID: 1833615392

Symbol: A0A0A0MT67_HUMAN

Name: N/A

UniProtKB Accession Codes:

A0A0A0MT67

Database IDs:

Antibodypedia 1 Bgee 1 BioGRID-ORCS 1 CTD 1 ChiTaRS 1 DNASU 1 DisGeNET 1 EMBL 1 Ensembl 3 GO 1 GeneTree 1 HGNC 1 InterPro 1 MANE-Select 1 NCBI Taxonomy 1 OMA 1 OrthoDB 1 PANTHER 2 PeptideAtlas 1 Pfam 1 Proteomes 2 ProteomicsDB 1 RefSeq 1 SAM 2 UCSC 1 VEuPathDB 1

Citations:

PubMed ID: 11237011

Title: Initial sequencing and analysis of the human genome.

PubMed ID: 11237011

DOI: 10.1038/35057062

PubMed ID: 15496913

Title: Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome.

PubMed ID: 15496913

DOI: 10.1038/nature03001

PubMed ID: 16554811

Title: Human chromosome 11 DNA sequence and analysis including novel gene identification.

PubMed ID: 16554811

DOI: 10.1038/nature04632

Sequence Information:

  • Length: 361
  • Mass: 39328
  • Checksum: 22D468F1B9FCED3B
  • Sequence:
    • MGIIQSILAT SRDCYSFKKK PIPKKPTMLA LAKILLISTL FYSLLSGSHG KENQDINTTQ 
NIAEVFKTME NKPISLESEA NLNSDKENIT TSNLKASHSP PLNLPNNSHG ITDFSSNSSA 
EHSLGSLKPT STISTSPPLI HSFVSKVPWN APIADEDLLP ISAHPNATPA LSSENFTWSL 
VNDTVKTPDN SSITVSILSS EPTSPSVTPL IVEPSGWLTT NSDSFTGFTP YQEKTTLQPT 
LKFTNNSKLF PNTSDPQKEN RNTGIVFGAI LGAILGVSLL TLVGYLLCGK RKTDSFSHRR 
LYDDRNEPVL RLDNAPEPYD VSFGNSSYYN PTLNDSAMPE SEENARDGIP MDDIPPLRTS 
V

Genular Protein ID: 3999459207

Symbol: A0A0A0MTD6_HUMAN

Name: N/A

UniProtKB Accession Codes:

A0A0A0MTD6

Database IDs:

Antibodypedia 1 Bgee 1 BioGRID-ORCS 1 CTD 1 ChiTaRS 1 DNASU 1 DisGeNET 1 EMBL 1 Ensembl 3 GeneTree 1 HGNC 1 InterPro 1 NCBI Taxonomy 1 OrthoDB 1 PANTHER 2 PeptideAtlas 1 Pfam 1 Proteomes 2 ProteomicsDB 1 RefSeq 1 SAM 1 UCSC 1 VEuPathDB 1

Citations:

PubMed ID: 11237011

Title: Initial sequencing and analysis of the human genome.

PubMed ID: 11237011

DOI: 10.1038/35057062

PubMed ID: 15496913

Title: Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome.

PubMed ID: 15496913

DOI: 10.1038/nature03001

PubMed ID: 16554811

Title: Human chromosome 11 DNA sequence and analysis including novel gene identification.

PubMed ID: 16554811

DOI: 10.1038/nature04632

Sequence Information:

  • Length: 311
  • Mass: 33796
  • Checksum: 72B0AD530B64920C
  • Sequence:
    • MGIIQSILAT SRDCYSFKKK PIPKKPTMLA LAKILLISTL FYSLLSGSHG KENQDINTTQ 
NIAEVFKTME NKPISLESEA NLNSDKENIT TSNLKASHSP PLNLPNNSHG ITDFSSNSSA 
EHSLGSLKPT STISTSPPLI HSFVSKVPWN APIADEDLLP ISAHPNATPA LSSENFTWSL 
VNDTVKTPDN SSITVSILSS EPTSPSVTPL IVEPSGWLTT NSDSFTGFTP YQEKTTLQPT 
LKFTNNSKLF PNTSDPQKVL RLDNAPEPYD VSFGNSSYYN PTLNDSAMPE SEENARDGIP 
MDDIPPLRTS V