Invertebrate intestinal mucin cDNA and related products and methods

1. An isolated polynucleotide encoding an invertebrate intestinal mucin comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

a) SEQ ID No. 3; and

b) SEQ ID No. 4.

2. An isolated polynucleotide encoding an invertebrate intestinal mucin, said polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of:

a) SEQ ID No. 1; and

b) SEQ ID No. 2.

3. An expression vector comprising an expression control sequence operatively linked to the polynucleotide of claim 1 or claim 2.

4. An isolated host cell comprising the expression vector of claim 3.

5. The expression vector of claim 3, wherein the expression vector is a bacterial expression vector.

6. The expression vector of claim 3, wherein the expression vector is a plant expression vector.

7. A method of producing an invertebrate intestinal mucin protein or peptide comprising:

a) transforming a host cell with an expression vector comprising a promoter operatively linked to a nucleotide sequence, wherein the nucleotide sequence encodes an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

i) SEQ ID No. 3; and

ii) SEQ ID No. 4;

or wherein the nucleotide sequence encodes a peptide comprised by a sequence selected from the group consisting of:

iii) SEQ ID No. 3; and

iv) SEQ ID No. 4;

b) culturing said host cell under conditions that allow expression of said invertebrate intestinal mucin protein or peptide in recoverable quantity;

c) lysing said host cell; and

d) recovering said invertebrate intestinal mucin protein or peptide.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said expression vector encodes a fusion protein comprising the invertebrate intestinal mucin protein or peptide and glutathione-S-transferase.