Separation and quantification of milk casein from different buffalo breeds.
Understanding the milk protein expression profile in different buffalo breeds plays an important role in improving hybrid selection and determining the effects on milk protein synthesis. The aim of this research is to compare the differences in milk protein content, composition and distribution between River buffalo and their crossbreeds for hybrid screening. Four groups of milk samples that included Nili-Ravi (N), Murrah (M), a Nili-Ravi-Murrah crossbreed (M-N), and a crossbreed of river buffalo with local swamp buffalo (C) were collected. The protein composition of the buffalo milk was determined by RP-HPLC. A gel-based proteomic approach consisting of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis coupled with mass spectrometry was utilised for the detailed protein characterisation of milk from different breeds. The results of this analysis showed that the river/swamp buffalo crossbreed (C) displayed the highest content of total protein (4·46%) and κ-casein (11·14%) but the lowest content of α-lactalbumin (6·79%). By selecting 23 different protein spots among the four types of milk that contained the most spots corresponding to κ-casein, β-casein and αs1-casein, correlations between the crossbreeds, protein polymorphism and phosphorylation could be made. The results of this study indicate that crossbreeding a swamp buffalo with a river buffalo has a notable effect on the protein content and composition that may be exploited for producing high-quality raw milk in food technology applications and dairy food production.
Institute of Dairy Science,College of Animal Sciences,Zhejiang University,Hangzhou 310029,People's Republic of China.
Shanshan
S
Li
Water Buffalo Institute,Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science,Nanning 530001,People's Republic of China.
Ling
L
Li
Water Buffalo Institute,Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science,Nanning 530001,People's Republic of China.
Qingkun
Q
Zeng
Institute of Dairy Science,College of Animal Sciences,Zhejiang University,Hangzhou 310029,People's Republic of China.
Jianxin
J
Liu
Institute of Dairy Science,College of Animal Sciences,Zhejiang University,Hangzhou 310029,People's Republic of China.
Daxi
D
Ren
D000818:Animals; D002020:Buffaloes / Q000235:genetics; D002364:Caseins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002681:China; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000662:veterinary; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry*; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D040901:Proteomics; D013045:Species Specificity
D002364:Caseins; D008894:Milk Proteins
Swamp buffalo; comparative proteomics; crossbreed; milk protein; river buffalo