Variation in the N -acetyl neuraminic acid content of bovine κ-casein

Effect of composition, casein genetic variants and glycosylation degree on bovine milk whipping properties

This study investigated the individual and combined effects of ĸ-Casein (ĸ-CN; AA, AB, BB), β-Casein (β-CN; A1A1, A1A2, A2A2) and high and low ratios of glycosylated ĸ-CN to total ĸ-CN, referred to as the glycosylation degree (GD), on bovine cream whipping properties. The genetic variants of individual cows were identified using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and verified through liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). A previously discovered relationship between days-in-milk and GD was validated and used to obtain high and low GD milk. Whipped creams were created through the mechanical agitation of fat standardised cream from milk of different ĸ-CN, β-CN, and GD combinations, and whipping properties (the ability to whip, overrun, whipping time and firmness) were evaluated. No significant correlation was measured in whipping properties for cream samples from milks with different ĸ-CN and β-CN genetic variants. However, 80 % of samples exhibiting good whipping properties (i.e., the production of a stiffened peak) were from milk with low GD suggesting a correlation between whipping properties and levels of glycosylation. Moreover, cream separated from skim milk of larger casein micelle size showed superior whipping properties with shorter whipping times (<5 min), and higher firmness and overrun. Milk fat globule (MFG) size, on the other hand, did not affect whipping properties. Results indicate that the GD of κ-CN and casein micelle size may play a role in MFG adsorption at the protein and air interface of air bubbles formed during whipping; hence, they govern the dynamics of fat network formation and influencing whipping properties.

Metabolomics of Milk Reflects a Negative Energy Balance in Cows

Dairy cows can experience a negative energy balance (NEB) in early lactation when feed intake is too low to meet the energy requirements for body maintenance and milk production. Metabolic changes occur in mammary gland cells of animals experiencing a negative energy balance. We studied these metabolic changes in milk samples from dairy cows in relation to energy balance status using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (QQQ-LC–MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR). NMR and LC–MS techniques are complementary techniques that enabled a comprehensive overview of milk metabolites in our study. Energy balance and milk samples were obtained from 87 dairy cows. A total of 55 milk metabolites were reliably detected, of which 15 metabolites were positively correlated to energy balance and 20 were negatively correlated to energy balance. Cows in NEB produced more milk with increased milk fat yield and higher concentrations of citrate, cis-aconitate, creatinine, glycine, phosphocreatine, galactose-1-phosphate, glucose-1-phosphate, UDP-N-acetyl-galactosamine, UDP-N-acetyl-glucosamine, and phosphocholine but lower concentrations of choline, ethanolamine, fucose, N-acetyl-neuraminic acid, N-acetyl-glucosamine, and N-acetyl-galactosamine. During NEB, we observed an increased leakage of cellular content, increased synthesis of nucleic acids and cell membrane phospholipids, an increase in one-carbon metabolic processes, and an increase in lipid-triglyceride anabolism. Overall, both apoptosis combined with cellular renewal is paramount in the mammary gland in cows in NEB.

Seasonal variations in composition, properties, and heat-induced changes in bovine milk in a seasonal calving system

We determined seasonal variations in the composition and characteristics of bovine milk, as well as heat-induced changes in the physicochemical properties of the milk, in a typical seasonal-calving New Zealand herd over 2 full milking seasons. Fat, protein, and lactose contents varied consistently during the year in patterns similar to those of the lactation cycle. Seasonality also had significant effects on milk calcium, ionic calcium, fat globule size, buffering capacity, and ethanol stability, but not on casein micelle size. The ratio of casein to total protein did not vary significantly over the season, but late-season milk had the highest content of glycosylated κ-casein (G-κ-CN) and the lowest content of α-lactalbumin in both years. We observed significant between-year effects on protein, total calcium, ionic calcium, pH, and casein:total protein ratio, which might have resulted from different somatic cell counts in the 2 years. Compared with heating at 90°C for 6 min, UHT treatment (140°C for 5 s) induced greater dissociation of κ-casein, a similar extent of whey protein denaturation, a lower extent of whey protein-casein micelle association, and a larger increase in casein micelle size. Indeed, UHT treatment might have triggered significant dissociation of G-κ-CN, resulting in aggregation among the casein micelles and increased apparent mean casein micelle diameter. Seasonality had significant effects on the partitioning of G-κ-CN between the micelle and the serum phase, the extent of whey protein-casein micelle association under both heating conditions, and the casein micelle size of the UHT milk.

Milk protein genetic variants and isoforms identified in bovine milk representing extremes in coagulation properties

A gel-based proteomic approach consisting of 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis coupled with mass spectrometry was applied for detailed protein characterization of a subset of individual milk samples with extreme rennet coagulation properties. A milk subset with either good or poor coagulation abilities was selected from 892 Danish Holstein-Friesian and Jersey cows. Screening of genetic variants of the major milk proteins resulted in the identification of common genetic variants of β-casein (CN; A(1), A(2), B), κ-CN (A, B), and β-lactoglobulin (LG; A, B), as well as a low frequency variant, κ-CN variant E, and variants not previously reported in Danish breeds (i.e., β-CN variant I and β-LG variant C). Clear differences in the frequencies of the identified genetic variants were evident between breeds and, to some extent, between coagulation groups within breeds, indicating that an underlying genetic variation of the major milk proteins affects the overall milk coagulation ability. In milk with good coagulation ability, a high prevalence of the B variants of all 3 analyzed proteins were identified, whereas poorly coagulating milk was associated with the β-CN variant A(2), κ-CN variant A or E, and β-LG variant A or C. The β-CN variant I was identified in milk with both good and poor coagulation ability, a variant that has not usually been discriminated from β-CN variant A(2) in other studied cow populations. Additionally, a detailed characterization of κ-CN isoforms was conducted. Six κ-CN isoforms varying in phosphorylation and glycosylation levels from each of the genetic variants of κ-CN were separated and identified, along with an unmodified κ-CN form at low abundance. Relative quantification showed that around 95% of total κ-CN was phosphorylated with 1 or 2 phosphates attached, whereas approximately 35% of the identified κ-CN was glycosylated with 1 to 3 tetrasaccharides. Comparing isoforms from individual samples, we found a very consistent κ-CN isoform pattern, with only minor differences in relation to breed, κ-CN genetic variant, and milk coagulation ability.

Influence of κ-casein and β-lactoglobulin genetic variants on the heat stability of milk

Heat coagulation time-pH curves at 140°C were obtained for 43 blended skim milk samples from Holstein cows to determine the effects of genetic variants of κ-casein and β-lactoglobulin on milk heat stability. The blended milk samples were similar in terms of protein content and milk salts, but were genotypically different for κ-casein (AA, AB) and β-lactoglobulin (AA, AB, BB). Type A curves were obtained for all milks. Maximum heat stability was affected by the κ-casein genotype (AB > AA, P < 0·01) but the influence of the β-lactoglobulin genotype was only significant when the κ-casein AA genotype was present (β-lactoglobulin AA > BB, P < 0·0001). Minimum heat stability was significantly higher (P < 0·0001) for milk genotyped κ-casein AB:β-lactoglobulin BB. The effects of milk genotyped κ-casein BB on maximum and minimum heat stability were determined by analysing individual milks: κ-casein BB:β-lactoglobulin AB (n=8) and reconstituted milks: κ-casein BB:β-lactoglobulin AA, AB and BB (n = 17). Type B curves were obtained on three occasions for individual κ-casein BB:β-lactoglobulin AB milk and on five occasions in the case of reconstituted milks with κ-casein BB:β-lactoglobulin AA, AB and BB. This suggests a relationship between the type B curve and the κ-casein B genetic variant. Comparison of the mean values of heat stability at the pH of maximum heat stability of each individual and reconstituted milk genotype suggested that the best genotype for κ-casein in terms of heat stability was BB.

Microparticle-enhanced nephelometric immunoassay for caseinomacropeptide in milk

A microparticle-enhanced nephelometric immunoassay has been developed for the determination of caseinomacropeptide (CMP) in bovine milk. It is based on the nephelometric quantification of the competitive immunoagglutination of a microparticle–CMP conjugate with an anti-κ-casein (κ-CN) antiserum. This one step immunoassay was sensitive (detection limit in reaction mixture, 16μg/l), accurate (linear recovery of CMP in dilution overloading) and reproducible (CV 7–14% for within and between run precision). Because of the specificity of the polyclonal antiserum used, it was necessary to separate CMP from κ-CN by ultrafiltration before the quantification of bovine milk CMP. Under the conditions of milk ultrafiltration used, κ-CN was entirely retained (> 99·5%) but the concentration of CMP measured in milk ultrafiltrates was underestimated (by ∼25%) compared with its concentration in whole milk. Microparticle-enhanced nephelometric immunoassay of CMP, with a calibration range from 0·32 to 20 mg/1 for 20- fold diluted milk ultrafiltrate, allowed contamination of bovine milk by rennet whey as low as 5 ml/1 to be detected. Applied to ultrafiltrates from milk stored at 4 °C, this immunoassay also detected proteolysis of κ-CN not revealed by measurement of κ-CN concentration in milk. A statistical lower limit of 3·21 mg/1 was determined as the increase in CMP concentration in milk ultrafiltrates that indicated probable κ-CN proteolysis in the milk sample. Previously demonstrated to be an easy to perform method for assaying the main proteins of bovine milk, microparticle-enhanced nephelometric immunoassay thus also appeared to be appropriate to quantify CMP so as to detect slight contamination of milk by whey and to indicate the proteolysis of κ-CN during milk storage at low temperature.

Development of a capillary zone electrophoresis method for caseinoglycomacropeptide determination

Caseinoglycomacropeptide (CGMP) is a polypeptide of 64 amino acid residues, derived from the C-terminal part of bovine kappa-casein. A sensitive and selective capillary zone electrophoresis method has been developed and validated for the analysis and quantitation of CGMP. Separation is carried out at 30 kV, using an uncoated fused-silica capillary and 20 mM sodium citrate buffer at acidic pH 3.5. The described method allows the separation of various CGMP subcomponents. The validation data proves that the method has the requisite selectivity, sensitivity, reproducibility and linearity for CGMP assay and for quality control during CGMP manufacturing (batch-to-batch reproducibility).

Heterogeneity of the bovine kappa-casein caseinomacropeptide, resolved by liquid chromatography on-line with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Microheterogeneity occurs in the population of caseinomacropeptides (residues 106-169 of kappa-casein) due to variation in the extent and type of oligosaccharide linked to this phosphoglycopeptide. Although caseinomacropeptide A variant (CMPA) was poorly resolved using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) with spectrophotometric detection, it could be analysed with on-line electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). From the already established O-linked glycan chains at least fourteen glycosylated forms of CMPA were identified, besides the non-glycosylated and multiphosphorylated (1, 2 or 3 phosphate groups) peptides, giving a maximum number of eighteen known forms. Major subcomponents in CMPA are disialylated species. A maximum of three out of the five potential glycosylation sites were found to be substituted with carbohydrate chains in the most highly glycosylated forms, which may contain up to six N-acetylneuraminic acid residues per molecule. A minor form, diphosphorylated with one disialylated chain, was also detected. From these results, it was shown that the on-line coupling of HPLC with ESI-MS offers a very promising alternative for the analysis of complex mixtures.

The isolation and properties of whole casein: some implications for comparative studies

1. Problems in the isolation of whole casein from bovine milk are considered. A summary is given of our experiences in its isolation. 2. The physical characteristics, sedimentation velocity, heterogeneity, absorptivity, nitrogen, phosphorus and carbohydrate contents of whole casein prepared from normal and sub-clinical mastitic milk samples by a variety of methods are compared. The methods are acid precipitation, high-speed centrifugation, with and without added calcium (II), and ammonium sulphate precipitation. 3. A description is given of the low temperature ammonium sulphate procedure preferred for the isolation of whole casein, especially when it is to be used for subsequent fractionation for conformation and micelle studies. 4. The question of the use of bovine casein as a paradigm for the caseins of other mammalian species and the need for further studies of the physical, chemical and biological properties of the caseins are discussed.

Association of kappa-casein glycosylation with milk production and composition in Holsteins

A total of 545 milk samples were collected from 53 Holstein cows for 1 yr. On test day, morning milk yields were recorded; milk samples were analyzed for N-acetylneuraminic acid, protein, fat, casein, kappa-casein, and SCC. the relationship between the degree of glycosylation of kappa-casein and morning milk yield and composition was investigated. Data were analyzed using least squares procedures with a model that included test day, parity, stage of lactation, SCC, and phenotype for kappa-casein as fixed effects and N-acetylneuraminic acid content of kappa-casein as covariate. After adjustments were made for effects of environmental and genetic factors, the degree of glycosylation of kappa-casein was associated with morning milk yield, protein, and casein content. Milk yield increased linearly with an increase of N-acetylneuraminic content up to approximately 70 micrograms/mg of kappa-casein.