Abstract: The principal components of the protein fraction in pony mare's milk have been successfully identified and partially characterized using proteomic tools. Skimmed pony mare's milk was fractionated by either reversed phase-high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) on a C4 column or a bi-dimensional separation technique coupling RP-HPLC in the first dimension and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) in the second dimension (two-dimensional RP-HPLC/SDS-PAGE). The fractions thus obtained were analyzed by Edman N-terminal microsequencing and mass determination, with or without tryptic digestion, on a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight spectrometer. Based on the sequence and molecular mass information obtained, identifications were achieved through a protein database search using homology or pattern research algorithms. This methodological approach was shown to be rapid, efficient and reliable in identifying the principal proteins in pony mare's milk. kappa-, alpha(s1)-, alpha(s2)-, and beta-casein, lysozyme C, alpha-lactalbumin and beta-lactoglobulin I and II were thus identified. alpha(s1) and beta-caseins displayed polymorphic patterns, probably due to alternative splicing processes leading to casual exon skipping events involving exons 7 and 14 in alpha(s1)-casein and exon 5 in beta-casein. Edman N-terminal microsequencing over 35 amino acid residues, for pony alpha(s1)-casein, clearly demonstrated the occurrence, in Equidae, of a splicing pattern similar to that reported in rodents, characterized by the constitutive outsplicing of exon 5. Pony mare's milk SDS-PAGE and RP-HPLC patterns were compared with those obtained for other milks (cow, goat and human), as were the relative levels of caseins and major whey proteins in these milks. Our results provide further evidence to support the notion that Equidae milk is closer to human breast milk than milk from bovine and caprine with respect to the casein and lysozyme C contents and casein/whey proteins ratio.
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This research successfully identified and partially characterized the main protein components in pony mare’s milk using proteomic tools, highlighting the similarities between Equidae and human milk in protein content.
Research Methodology
The study used skimmed pony mare’s milk, where the protein content was obtained through reversed phase-high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) or a bi-dimensional separation technique combining RP-HPLC and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE).
These obtained protein fractions were further analyzed with Edman N-terminal microsequencing and mass determination, both with and without tryptic digestion, with a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight spectrometer.
Upon acquiring information regarding the sequence and molecular mass, identifications of proteins were made by searching protein databases using homology or pattern research algorithms.
Research Findings
The proteomic tools used in the research proved efficient and rapid in identifying the principal proteins in pony mare’s milk. These included kappa-, alpha(s1)-, alpha(s2)-, and beta-casein, lysozyme C, alpha-lactalbumin, and beta-lactoglobulin I and II.
Polymporphism patterns were observed in alpha(s1) and beta-caseins, likely caused by alternative splicing processes that result in casual exon skipping events with exons 7 and 14 in alpha(s1)-casein and exon 5 in beta-casein.
Edman N-terminal microsequencing of over 35 amino acids residues for alpha(s1)-casein indicated a splicing pattern in Equidae similar to that noted in rodents, specifically the regular outsplicing of exon 5.
Comparative Study and Conclusion
The research also compared the SDS-PAGE and RP-HPLC patterns of mare’s milk with those obtained from cow, goat, and human milks, including the relative levels of caseins and major whey proteins.
Results emphasized that in terms of casein and lysozyme C contents, as well as the casein-to-whey protein ratio, Equidae milk closely resembles human breast milk than milk from bovines and caprines.
Cite This Article
APA
Miranda G, Mahé MF, Leroux C, Martin P.
(2004).
Proteomic tools to characterize the protein fraction of Equidae milk.
Proteomics, 4(8), 2496-2509.
https://doi.org/10.1002/pmic.200300765
Laboratoire de Biochimie et Structure des Protéines, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Jouy-en-Josas, France. guy.miranda@jouy.inra.fr
Mahé, Marie-Françoise
Leroux, Christine
Martin, Patrice
MeSH Terms
Amino Acid Sequence
Animals
Cattle
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / methods
Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional
Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
Female
Goats
Horses
Humans
Milk / chemistry
Milk Proteins / analysis
Milk Proteins / genetics
Molecular Sequence Data
Molecular Weight
Peptides / analysis
Proteomics / methods
Sequence Alignment
Citations
This article has been cited 14 times.
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