Loach skin mucin was isolated from loach skin mucus and found to be similar to mammalian mucins in many aspects, i.e., low amino acid residue content, high molecular weight, presence of hydrophobic blocks and gel-forming characteristics in water. However, loach skin mucin can form a weak gel in water at a much lower concentration （3 mg/mL） than mammalian mucins, indicating its good hydrophilicity. Loach skin mucin can also form a stable adsorption layer on gold surface in aqueous environment, owing to the existence of hydrophobic blocks within mucin. The nature of high hydrophilicity and interfacial behavior give loach skin mucin potential as excellent material for use in solid-water interfaces for antifouling and lubrication, and should be crucial to the versatile functions of loach skin mucus.
