Association of plasminogen with bovine milk fat globule membrane

Variation with season and lactation of plasmin and plasminogen concentrations in Montbeliard cows' milk

Plasmin and plasminogen were determined monthly over a one year period in samples of bulk and herd milks from Montbeliard cows. Montbeliard milk showed a high content of plasmin and plasminogen in comparison with milk from other breeds. In bulk milk, the plasmin activity reached a minimum in September (O·15 μg/ml milk) and a maximum in June (0·32 μg/ml milk). The annual mean concentration was 0·23 μg/ml milk. The plasminogen content varied around a value of 1·28 μg/ml milk, with a marked decrease in September (0·83 μg/ml milk) and a maximum in October (1·59 μg/ml milk). In herd milk, the minimum plasmin activity occurred in October (0·17 μ/ml milk) and the maximum in spring (O·42 μg/ml milk in May) with an annual mean of 0·30 μg/ml milk. The plasminogen content varied in a similar way, from 0·87 μg/ml milk to 1·82 μg/ml milk, with an annual mean of 1·46 μg/ml. The ratio plasminogen: plasmin ranged from 1·4 to 9·2 with an average of 4·9. From early to late lactation, plasmin and plasminogen concentrations increased from 0·25 to 0·38 μg/ml milk and from 1·07 to 2·01 μg/ml milk respectively and the plasminogen: plasmin ratio increased from 4·5 to 5·3. Studies of milk from cows at similar stage of lactation within a single herd have shown the necessity for distinguishing between two phases in the early stage of lactation. The first, a very early period, is usually present up to one month and the second occurs in the second and third months. Milk samples with the highest proportion of γ-caseins were not those with the greatest plasmin content but were those with high plasminogen contents, which had increased suddenly from the levels of the preceding month. This suggests a role for the plasminogen activator and inhibitor system.

A study of proteolysis during Camembert cheese ripening using isoelectric focusing and two-dimensional electrophoresis

Isoelectric focusing and 2-dimensional electrophoresis were used to study the development of the pH 4·6-insoluble fraction during Camembert cheese ripening. Modifications of this fraction were due mainly to the action of 5 proteinases: rennet (chymosin + bovine pepsin), plasmin and Penicillium caseicolum aspartyl-and metalloproteinases. Rennet was inactive on β-casein, but acted very early on αs1-casein. However, rennet and P. caseicolum aspartyl-proteinase had a very similar action on the latter substrate, which prevented clear definition of the respective actions of these proteinases on αs1-casein after 7 d of ripening. Plasmin action on β-casein was important from 21 and 35 d of ripening at the surface and in the centre of the cheese respectively, suggesting an important influence of pH changes during maturation. The respective activities of the metallo-and aspartyl-proteinases of P. caseicolum were characterized and followed using β-casein degradation products as markers. The metallo-proteinase activity was detectable immediately after the development of the Penicillium (7 d), while that of the aspartyl-proteinase was observed 3 d later. Thereafter, the amount of β-casein degradation peptides resulting from the metalloproteinase decreased while that resulting from the aspartyl-proteinase increased, suggesting a more important role of the latter enzyme.

A review and proposed nomenclature for major proteins of the milk-fat globule membrane

The characteristics and possible functions of the most abundant proteins associated with the bovine milk-fat globule membrane are reviewed. Under the auspices of the Milk Protein Nomenclature Committee of the ADSA, a revised nomenclature for the major membrane proteins is proposed and discussed in relation to earlier schemes. We recommend that proteins be assigned specific names as they are identified by molecular cloning and sequencing techniques. The practice of identifying proteins according to their Mr, electrophoretic mobility, or staining characteristics should be discontinued, except for uncharacterized proteins. The properties and amino acid sequences of the following proteins are discussed in detail: MUC1, xanthine dehydrogenase/oxidase, CD36, butyrophilin, adipophilin, periodic acid Schiff 6/7 (PAS 6/7), and fatty acid binding protein. In addition, a compilation of less abundant proteins associated with the bovine milk-fat globule membrane is presented.

Distribution of plasminogen and plasmin in fractions of bovine milk

The relative amounts of immunoreactive plasminogen and active plasmin in different fractions of bovine milk were examined. Raw milk was centrifuged to separate skim, cream, and a somatic cell pellet. Skim milk was centrifuged to separate milk serum and casein micelles. Milk fat globule membranes were isolated from the cream fraction of bovine milk. Proteins from somatic cells were isolated following sonication of the cells. Western blot analysis showed the presence of several forms of plasminogen in bovine milk. The predominant forms of plasminogen identified following electrophoresis under nonreducing conditions were proteins with approximate molecular weights of 88,000, 152,000, and 160,000. The predominant forms of plasminogen identified after electrophoresis under reducing conditions were two proteins with approximate molecular weights of 88,000 and 50,000. The highest amount (82% of the total plasminogen), as determined by an ELISA, was associated with the casein fraction. Lower plasminogen concentrations were associated with the serum, cream fractions, and milk fat globule membranes. The SDS-PAGE of the cream and milk fat globule membranes indicated that some casein was present in both fractions. Thus, the low plasminogen concentrations in these fractions may be associated with the caseins there. No immunoreactive plasminogen was present in the somatic cells. Active plasmin was present in the same milk fractions in which plasminogen was detected: casein, serum, and cream.

The inflammatory activity of activated complement in ovine and bovine mammary glands

Infusion of zymosan-activated plasma (ZAP), a source of activated complement, induced inflammation in non-lactating mammary glands but not in lactating glands of ewes and cows. Interstitial injection of ZAP in lactating ovine glands also failed to induce inflammation as assessed by the neutrophil content of milk. The inflammatory activity of ZAP in non-lactating glands was inhibited by infusion of whole milk but not by skimmed milk. These results suggest that components of whole milk mask the inflammatory activity of activated complement. In addition, lactating mammary tissue of ewes and cows may lack sensitivity to the inflammatory effect of activated complement. Thus, activated complement cannot be an important mediator of inflammation in the lactating gland.

The proteolytic activity of milk fat, whey and casein for iodinated, extrinsic bovine IgG1, IgG2, SIgA and IgM

Purified, iodinated bovine immunoglobulins (Igs) were incubated with fresh Guernsey milk or with the casein, fat and whey fraction of such milk for up to 12 hr at 37 degrees C. Igs incubated in whole milk, showed little evidence of proteolysis in either the whey, fat or casein fractions although the amount of radioactivity which became associated with the latter two fractions prevented adequate analysis. When the individual milk fractions were first prepared and then incubated with iodinated Igs, we found no evidence for proteolysis of any Ig in whey or casein but ca. 25% breakdown or dissociation of the IgM and SIgA which had been incubated with milk fat. Breakdown of these Igs in fat was not inhibited with benzamidine-HCl, sodium azide or EDTA. These data show that: only those Igs which associate with milk fat are degraded or dissociated by it and the Ig fragments described from cows milk or recovered during studies on Ig transport cannot be ascribed to the proteolytic activity of fresh milk.

Quantitation of bovine beta 2-microglobulin: occurrence in body fluids, on milk fat globules and origin in milk

The concns of bovine beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2M) and selected control proteins were measured using a competitive immunoassay to determine the origin of beta 2M in cows' milk. Using milk samples collected at various times, separated into different fractions and treated with protease inhibitors, it was established that beta 2M appears in cows' milk by protease-dependent degradation of the cellular fraction of milk, probably mononuclear cells, but is not derived from milk fat globules (MFG) or from polymorphonuclear leukocytes despite positive immunofluorescence of the former. The latter source could be eliminated by the induction of neutrophilia which produced no changes in beta 2M levels. Our data also indicate a minimal contribution by MFG to levels of secretory component despite its detection by indirect immunofluorescence on MFG but are consistent with the view that the milk fat globule membrane protein, bovine-associated microprotein, is derived from MFG by proteolysis. Protease-dependent degradation of milk components is an in vivo storage effect which occurs as early as the first 3 hr of in vivo storage. Compared to three other secretions tested, beta 2M was most concentrated in lacteal secretions and codistributed with bovine lymphocyte antigen in milk.

In vivo proteolytic activity of the mammary gland. Contribution to the origin of secretory component, beta 2-microglobulin and bovine-associated mucoprotein (BAMP) in cows milk

Milk samples were collected from Holstein-Friesian cows at various times after milking (10-30 min; 30 min-10 hr) and treated with a protease inhibitor or control solution. Samples were then fractionated into whole, skimmed and cell-free skimmed milk aliquots. Some animals were treated with E. coli endotoxin prior to sample collection. The concentrations of three membrane-associated proteins (MAP), beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2M), secretory component (SC) and bovine-associated mucoprotein (BAMP) as well as albumin were measured in each aliquot to determine if in vivo proteolysis of milk elements could explain the origin of these MAP in milk. All three MAP could be localized on milk fat globules (MFG) and alveolar epithelial cells of the gland. Data revealed that all BAMP in milk can be accounted for by in vivo proteolytic degradation of MFG while most beta 2M is derived by similar degradation, from cellular elements in milk, presumably monocytes. Experiments with endotoxin which elevate PMN levels, failed to influence the release of any MAP while elevating albumin levels by greater than 10-fold. Based on these studies, SC release into milk cannot be ascribed to a protease-dependent mechanism.

Plasmin cleaves human beta-casein

Plasmin cleaves isolated human beta-casein to form specific fragments in a manner similar to the generation of gamma 1-, gamma 2-, and gamma 3-caseins from the bovine homologue. Identification of a protein previously isolated from human milk as a specific plasmin cleaved portion of beta-casein indicates that endogenous plasmin is active in whole milk. These findings suggest that protease activity should be considered in casein quantitation or isolation of components from human milk.

Separation of the proteins of bovine milk-fat-globule membrane by electrofocusing with retention of enzymatic and immunological activity

1. Proteins of fat-globule membrane from bovine milk were solubilized with the non-ionic detergent Triton X-100 in the presence of protease inhibitors. Approximately 25% of the total membrane protein was solubilized and the extracts were shown to contain a sample of most of the major membrane proteins and glycoproteins. 2. The solubilized proteins were separated in flat-beds of Ultrodex by electrofocusing and the pI values for the major proteins, glycoproteins and certain enzymes determined. Several of the proteins displayed marked heterogeneity indicating the existence of protein variants and isoenzymes. Principal pI values for the enzymes assayed were as follows: xanthine oxidase, 7.35--7.55; NADH2: iodonitrotetrazolium reductase, less than 4.5; 5'-nucleotidase, 7.15--7.4; alkaline phosphatase, 5.4--5.7; phosphodiesterase, 4.6--4.8; gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, 4.4--4.55. 3. Fractions after electrofocusing were analyzed by 'fused rocket' immunoelectrophoresis and crossed immunoelectrophoresis after separation in polyacrylamide gels containing sodium dodecyl sulphate. Major antigens of the membrane include xanthine oxidase and glycoproteins of apparent molecular weights 67 000, 49 500 and 46 000. The latter two components share common antigenic determinants and could not be separated by gel filtration, ion-exchange chromatography, lectin-affinity chromatography or preparative electrofocusing.