Identification of proteose-peptone component 5 as a plasmin-derived fragment of bovine beta-casein

MALDI-TOF-MS Platform for Integrated Proteomic and Peptidomic Profiling of Milk Samples Allows Rapid Detection of Food Adulterations

Adulteration of ovine, caprine, and buffalo milks with more common bovine material occurs for economic reasons and seasonal availability. Frauds are also associated with the use of powdered milk instead of declared, fresh material. In this context, various analytical methods have been adapted to dairy science applications with the aim to evaluate adulteration of milk samples, although time-consuming, suitable only for speciation or thermal treatment analysis, or useful for a specific fraud type. An integrated MALDI-TOF-MS platform for the combined peptidomic and proteomic profiling of milk samples is here presented, which allows rapid detection of illegal adulterations due to the addition of either nondeclared bovine material to water buffalo, goat, and ovine milks or of powdered bovine milk to the fresh counterpart. Peptide and protein markers of each animal milk were identified after direct analysis of a large number of diluted skimmed and/or enriched diluted skimmed filtrate samples. In parallel, markers of thermal treatment were characterized in different types of commercial milks. Principal components scores of ad hoc prepared species- or thermal treatment-associated adulterated milk samples were subjected to partial least-squares regression, permitting a fast accurate estimate of the fraud extents in test samples at either protein and peptide level. With respect to previous reports on MALDI-TOF-MS protein profiling methodologies for milk speciation, this study extends that approach to the analysis of the thermal treatment and introduces an independent, complementary peptide profiling measurement, which integrates protein data with additional information on peptides, validating final results and ultimately broadening the method applicability.

Comprehensive peptidomic and glycomic evaluation reveals that sweet whey permeate from colostrum is a source of milk protein-derived peptides and oligosaccharides

Whey permeate is a co-product obtained when cheese whey is passed through an ultrafiltration membrane to concentrate whey proteins. Whey proteins are retained by the membrane, whereas the low-molecular weight compounds such as lactose, salts, oligosaccharides and peptides pass through the membrane yielding whey permeate. Research shows that bovine milk from healthy cows contains hundreds of naturally occurring peptides - many of which are homologous with known antimicrobial and immunomodulatory peptides - and nearly 50 oligosaccharide compositions (not including structural isomers). As these endogenous peptides and oligosaccharides have low-molecular weight and whey permeate is currently an under-utilized product stream of the dairy industry, we hypothesized that whey permeate may serve as an inexpensive source of naturally occurring functional peptides and oligosaccharides. Laboratory fractionation of endogenous peptides and oligosaccharides from bovine colostrum sweet whey was expanded to pilot-scale. The membrane fractionation methodology used was similar to the methods commonly used industrially to produce whey protein concentrate and whey permeate. Pilot-scale fractionation was compared to laboratory-scale fractionation with regard to the identified peptides and oligosaccharide compositions. Results were interpreted on the basis of whether industrial whey permeate could eventually serve as a source of functional peptides and oligosaccharides. The majority (96%) of peptide sequences and the majority (96%) of oligosaccharide compositions found in the laboratory-scale process were mirrored in the pilot-scale process. Moreover, the pilot-scale process recovered an additional 33 peptides and 1 oligosaccharide not identified from the laboratory-scale extraction. Both laboratory- and pilot-scale processes yielded peptides deriving primarily from the protein β-casein. The similarity of the laboratory-and pilot-scale's resulting peptide and oligosaccharide profiles demonstrates that whey permeate can serve as an industrial-scale source of bovine milk peptides and oligosaccharides.

Peptidomic profile of milk of Holstein cows at peak lactation

Bovine milk is known to contain naturally occurring peptides, but relatively few of their sequences have been determined. Human milk contains hundreds of endogenous peptides, and the ensemble has been documented for antimicrobial actions. Naturally occurring peptides from bovine milk were sequenced and compared with human milk peptides. Bovine milk samples from six cows in second-stage peak lactation at 78-121 days postpartum revealed 159 peptides. Most peptides (73%) were found in all six cows sampled, demonstrating the similarity of the intramammary peptide degradation across these cows. One peptide sequence, ALPIIQKLEPQIA from bovine perilipin 2, was identical to another found in human milk. Most peptides derived from β-casein, αs1-casein, and αs2-casein. No peptides derived from abundant bovine milk proteins such as lactoferrin, β-lactoglobulin, and secretory immunoglobulin A. The enzymatic cleavage analysis revealed that milk proteins were degraded by plasmin, cathepsins B and D, and elastase in all samples.

A method for determination of γ-casein and its use for investigating proteolysis in bovine milk

A convenient and sensitive method for determining γ-casein content of skim milk is described. It is based on quantitative separation in which the soluble fraction obtained from skim milk (1·5 ml) in a solvent system consisting of 50% (v/v) ethanol, 0·4 M-Na thiocyanate and 0·15 M-CaCl2 was applied to a small column of DEAE-cellulose and eluted with 0·02 M-Tris-HCl buffer (pH 8·0) containing 0·03 M-NaCl and 6 M-urea. Protein in this fraction (5 ml) was measured from its absorbance at 280 nm. The method is applicable also to heated skim milk. Its availability for investigating proteolysis in milk is expected from the fact that incubation of skim milk with porcine plasmin at 37 °C for 3 h increased γ-casein content, an increase that was lowered by addition of soyabean trypsin inhibitor. Incubation of raw skim milk with 0·02% (w/v) NaN3 resulted in increase in γ-casein with time and with increasing temperature. This was accompanied by a time lag, the length of which increased with decreasing temperature. The degree of proteolysis in skim milk, expressed as the amount of increase in γ-casein after 20 h of incubation at 37 °C, showed two pH optima, one at pH 8·0 and the other at pH 7·2–7·5. These results suggested that the present method.of γ-casein determination can be used for more precise studies of the milk plasmin system in which important factors, such as plasminogen activator and inhibitors, are involved.

Fast protein liquid chromatography purification of hydrophobic fraction of bovine milk proteose-peptone and characterization by bidimensional electrophoresis

Bovine milk Hydrophobic fraction of proteose-peptone was prepared by hydrophobic interaction fast protein liquid chromatography. This method has several advantages such as high rapidity, simple good reproducibility and less denaturation. The proteose-peptone was eluted from a TSK-Phenyl-5PW column with a 1 M-0 M ionic strength gradient of NaH2PO4, pH 6·8, using a 6 ml/min flow rate for 56 min. The quantity of protein injected was 62·5 mg; however, it could be increased up to 100 mg. The elution order was β-CN-4P < BSA (1·6% of total N) < β-CN-5P < β-CN-1P. The hydrophobic fraction was obtained in pure water at the end of the gradient (17·3% of total N). A proteose-peptone cartograph was achieved by bidimensional electrophoresis. This hydrophobic fraction represented three principal zones of Mr 30000–28000, 19000 and 11000, which were respectively composed of 13, 4 and 2 principal spots distributed between 4·9 and 6·1 isoelectric points (IP). These spots corresponded to glycoproteins. ·7, 5·0 and 5·1 IP which migrated to Mr 18000 while β-CN-1P was identified as Mr 9000 in two spots of 5·1 and 5·3 IP.

Bioactive properties of milk proteins with particular focus on anticariogenesis

Beyond nutrition, there is an increasing amount of data and information to demonstrate a bioactive role for dairy components in adults including a role in prevention of dental caries. Specifically, the casein fraction and hydrolysates thereof have been the focus of researchers investigating cariogenicity prevention. Tooth enamel is a polymeric substance consisting of crystalline calcium phosphate embedded in a protein matrix. Dental caries develop by acidic demineralization (calcium and phosphorus solubilization) of tooth enamel. Demineralization occurs directly (acidic food consumption) or indirectly (by fermentation products of dental plaque odontopathogenic bacteria growing on residual food particles between teeth or adhering to the plaque). Research efforts with milk derived bioactive peptides have focused on inhibition of cariogenic, plaque-forming bacteria, inhibition of tooth enamel demineralization, and subsequent enamel remineralization. Caseinophosphopeptides (CPP) and glycomacropeptide (GMP) have been patented for use in common personal hygiene products to prevent dental caries. Research has shown CPP and GMP to be growth inhibitory to the cariogenic bacteria Streptococcus mutans and other species. Additionally, CPP forms nanoclusters with amorphous calcium phosphate (AMP) at the tooth surface to provide a reservoir of calcium and phosphate ions to maintain a state of super saturation with respect to tooth enamel. This would buffer plaque pH, and also provide ions for tooth enamel remineralization. Glycosidic structures attached to GMP are important to numerous bioactive properties of the peptide including anticariogenicity. Like CPP, GMP has shown inhibitory activity to enamel demineralization and promotes tooth enamel remineralization.

Comparative aspects of milk caseins

The caseins comprise the major protein component of milk of most mammals and are secreted as micelles that also carry high concentrations of calcium. They are phosphoproteins that represent the products of four genes, equivalent to those that encode the bovine alpha s1, alpha s2, beta, and kappa-caseins. There is considerable variation in the relative proportions of the particular caseins across species. The primary sequences of the alpha s1, alpha s2, and beta-caseins also show considerable species variation consistent with rapidly evolving genes that are proposed to have a common precursor. In contrast, the kappa-caseins exhibit features that demonstrate a separate origin and function where they are proposed to stabilise the micelle structure. This review focuses on comparative aspects of the caseins across a number of species for which information is now available.

[Nutritional physiology of whey and whey components]

Deriving from positive effects of whey drinking cures in antiquity, the Middle Ages and modern time, a review is given on nutritional significance of whey. The proteins are essential components of whey and belong to the proteins with highest biological value because of their amino acid composition. Besides, they show fundamental functional properties, which enable a varied application in foods, dietetic foods and beverages in form of different whey products (powder, protein concentrates and isolates). Whey proteins have found considerable usage in infant's nutrition as whey predominant formulas as well as whey protein hydrolysates in case of cow's milk protein intolerances. A recent field of research are biological active peptide sequences which become effective during digestion and are of importance for secretion of entero hormones as well as for immune enhancing effects. They may contribute to assess the biological value of whey proteins under enlarged points of view and to develop new application forms and areas. It is pointed to further fields of application (e.g. adipositas, gout, kidney insufficiency). Concerning the quantitatively most dominant lactose in whey, it is dealt with its importance for the healthy development of infants (adaptation to the increased lactose content of mother's milk) as well as with lactose intolerance and galactosaemia. In case of mineral salts of whey it is emphasized the high nutrient density of calcium (prophylaxis for osteoporosis), the beneficial Ca:P and Na:K proportions (antihypertensive in case of the last one), the promotion of absorption of mineral salts by lactose, and the high content of iodine. The whey is rich in B-vitamins, which contribute essentially for their satisfaction or requirement in case of a corresponding consumption. To be emphasized is the vitamin B12 in milk and whey, which is the sole source of this indispensable nutrient for blood-formation and cell division in lacto-ovo-vegetarian nutrition. In conclusion, a summarizing dietetics valuation of whey is performed.

Review and update of casein chemistry

Of all food proteins, bovine milk proteins are probably the most well characterized chemically, physically, and genetically. The primary structures are known for most genetic variants of alpha s1-, alpha s2-, beta-, and kappa-caseins, beta-lactoglobulin, and alpha-lactalbumin. Secondary and tertiary structures of the whey proteins have been determined, and secondary structures of the caseins have been predicted from spectral studies. The caseins, although less ordered in structure and more flexible than the typical globular whey proteins, have significant amounts of secondary and, probably, tertiary structure. The amphipathic structure of the caseins is especially noteworthy; thus, these proteins most likely are divided into polar and hydrophobic domains. The presence of anionic phosphoseryl residue clusters in the calcium-sensitive casein polar domains is particularly significant because of their interaction with calcium ions, or calcium salts, or both, and the formation of micelles. Flexibility of casein structures is reflected by their susceptibilities to limited proteolysis, which dramatically changes functionality.

Chromatographic and electrophoretic methods used for analysis of milk proteins

Current knowledge of milk proteins and their behavior in dairy foods is based on early applications of chromatography and electrophoresis. Electrophoretic identification of the number and genetic variety of milk proteins inaugurated a research effort in which chromatographic techniques were successfully applied to the isolation of each milk protein, thus facilitating the characterization and further study of milk and dairy products. This review focuses on recent applications of chromatography for separations and analysis and on analytical applications of electrophoresis.

Glycoproteins in the heat-and acid-stable fraction of ovine milk

Affinity chromatography on a concanavalin A-Sepharose support was used to isolate two glycoprotein fractions from a heat- and acid-stable fraction of ovine milk. One of these glycoprotein fractions was purified by rechromatography on DEAE-cellulose to essentially a pure protein yielding a single band on gel electrophoresis. The apparent Mr of this glycoprotein (GP2) as estimated by electrophoresis was 5,500. It contained 8.88% carbohydrate and 0.61% P. The other glycoprotein fraction (GP3) contained 0.53% P and 17.76% carbohydrate including sialic acid, mannose, galactose, fucose, galactosamine and glucosamine. It appeared on electrophoresis in acrylamide gels as a slow-moving broad band. On similar treatment in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate it revealed four glycoprotein zones with apparent Mr of 15,200, 18,300, 23,500 and 25,300. Both GP2 and GP3 contained low amounts of aromatic and sulphur-containing amino acid residues and large amounts of Asp, Glu, Ser and Leu. GP3 is similar in some respects to the bovine milk heat-and acid-stable fraction constituent, component 3.

Proteins in whey: chemical, physical, and functional properties

There is abundant information concerning the functional behavior of whey proteins in model systems. The data on functional properties reported by different researchers, however, reveal wide discrepancies in values. For example, in the case of comparable whey preparations, apparent solubilities may range from 10 to 100%; strength of gels from 0.3 to greater than 10 N, foam overruns from 250 to 1500%, and foam stabilities from 0.5 to 30 min. Many of the data are of limited value in assessing the true functional characteristics of different preparations, treatments, or processing effects. Reports to date are useful in indicating the relative behavior of different proteins; however, the data do not always predict the performance of such proteins in actual food systems. This reflects the fact that in foods, extensive interactions with other components may occur, resulting in modified behavior of the proteins. Harper, (1984) has advocated the testing of these various preparations in simulated food systems which should validly relate the behavior to performance in commercial systems. Emphasis on standardization of specific protocols, with regard to order of addition in ingredients, temperature, pH control, and amount of energy input during mixing, homogenization, emulsification, etc. deserves serious consideration. While this approach is justifiable in terms of providing valuable data to commercial users, it does not minimize the importance of examining these proteins in model systems where the physicochemical basis of each functional attribute can be described in molecular terms (Kinsella, 1987). Such information is necessary to expedite appropriate methods of processing in order to control compositional variability, extent of denatauration, and possible protein modification. In addition, rapid, reliable tests for routine quality assurance that can provide practical information concerning functional applications would be of great value. Whey protein preparations vary immensely in functional behavior and are presently relegated to limited use as functional ingredients in the food industry. This need not be the case since conventional and new technologies permit rigorous control of production protocols, e.g., careful control of heat treatments can result in the production of whey protein preparations with consistent, reliable functional properties (deWit, 1981, 1984; Harper, 1984; Morr, 1985). As the market for functional proteins continues to expand, the whey industry must seek the means to refine whey protein products; determine useful functional properties; develop standardized manufacturing protocols; demonstrate the effectiveness of whey as a functional ingredient; promote, and then market, whey on the basis of performance at competitive cost.

Comparative studies on "acid-stable, heat-stable polypeptides" of ovine, caprine and bovine milks

"Acid-stable, heat-stable polypeptides" (previously called proteose-peptone) of three milk species have been studied. Analysis by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that all fractions showed similar patterns. Only bands with the lowest mobilities showed the presence of carbohydrates when stained with Schiff's reagent. These bands had a lower mobility in ewe's and goat's milk than in cow's milk. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis showed the presence of fucose, mannose, glucose, galactose, glucosamine and galactosamine in the three fractions studied. Acid-stable, heat-stable polypeptides of bovine milk had the lowest carbohydrate content (4 mg/100 mg protein), whereas the highest content was found in ewe's milk (7.30 mg/100 mg protein) mainly as a result of the high galactose, mannose and glucosamine content. The sialic acid content was lower in ewe's and goat's milk (2.68 and 2.98 mg/100 mg protein respectively) than in bovine milk (2.06 mg/100 mg protein).

Characterization of a camel milk protein rich in proline identifies a new beta-casein fragment

A camel milk whey protein has been isolated by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography. The protein is, like caseins, rich in proline (25% of the whole protein). The N-terminal amino acid sequence shows that the protein is homologous with a C-terminal region of beta-caseins analyzed from other species. The protein is concluded to be a fragment of beta-casein, derived from a non-tryptic type of cleavage of the parent molecule, and increasing the multiplicity of known casein products.

Immunological relationship between the hydrophobic fraction of proteose-peptone and the milk fat globule membrane of bovine milk

The antigenic relationship between the milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) and the hydrophobic fraction of proteose-peptone (HFPP) was demonstrated, using a mono-specific anti-HFPP antibody.

Proteolysis in milk: the significance of proteinases originating from milk leucocytes and a comparison of the action of leucocyte, bacterial and natural milk proteinases on casein

The caseinolytic activities at pH 6.8 of polymorphonuclear (PMN) and mononuclear leucocyte homogenates (equivalent to a level of 10(6) cells/ml milk) were less than the levels of natural milk proteinase activity found in milk from healthy cows. Bulk milks contained approximately 4 times more milk proteinase activity than the composite milks from individual healthy cows. Isolated blood leucocytes, when added to raw milk of good bacteriological quality and stored at 5 degrees C, did not readily degenerate and had no detectable effect on the milk proteins even when these cells were completely disrupted by homogenization of the milk. Pasteurization of milk which contained leucocytes caused loss of cell vitality. Extracellular proteinases of psychrotrophic bacteria growing in milk were not detected until the early stationary phase of growth. The total viable count at which this occurred varied greatly. Proteinase production by a pure culture of Pseudomonas fluorescens was not detected in milk stored at 5 degrees C until a viable count of approximately 10(9) colony forming units (c.f.u.)/ml was obtained, whilst normal bulk milks stored at 5 degrees C produced detectable levels of extracellular proteinase(s) when the psychrotrophic flora reached 10(7)-10(8) c.f.u./ml. Casein proteolysis by PMN and mononuclear leucocyte homogenates resulted in similar polypeptide maps, but plasmin and bacterial proteinase isolated from a strain of Serratia marcescens resulted in polypeptide maps different from each other and from that produced by the leucocyte proteinase(s). The rate of proteolysis of caseins by the different proteinase sources appeared to be in the order alpha s1- greater than beta- greater than greater than kappa-casein for the leucocyte extracts, beta- greater than alpha s1- greater than greater than greater than kappa-casein for bovine plasmin and beta- approximately kappa- greater than alpha s1-casein for for S. marcescens proteinase.