Insulin regulates milk protein synthesis at multiple levels in the bovine mammary gland.
The role of insulin in milk protein synthesis is unresolved in the bovine mammary gland. This study examined the potential role of insulin in the presence of two lactogenic hormones, hydrocortisone and prolactin, in milk protein synthesis. Insulin was shown to stimulate milk protein gene expression, casein synthesis and (14)C-lysine uptake in mammary explants from late pregnant cows. A global assessment of changes in gene expression in mammary explants in response to insulin was undertaken using Affymetrix microarray. The resulting data provided insight into the molecular mechanisms stimulated by insulin and showed that the hormone stimulated the expression of 28 genes directly involved in protein synthesis. These genes included the milk protein transcription factor, ELF5, translation factors, the folate metabolism genes, FOLR1 and MTHFR, as well as several genes encoding enzymes involved in catabolism of essential amino acids and biosynthesis of non-essential amino acids. These data show that insulin is not only essential for milk protein gene expression, but stimulates milk protein synthesis at multiple levels within bovine mammary epithelial cells.
Menzies
Karensa K
KK
Department of Zoology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia. karensa.menzies@gmail.com
Lefèvre
Christophe
C
Macmillan
Keith L
KL
Nicholas
Kevin R
KR
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002364:Caseins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002417:Cattle; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008239:Lysine / Q000378:metabolism; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D012323:RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional / Q000187:drug effects; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects
D000596:Amino Acids; D002364:Caseins; D017931:DNA Primers; D007328:Insulin; D008894:Milk Proteins; D005492:Folic Acid; D008239:Lysine