Biosynthesis of beta1,4- and beta1,beta1-galactopyranosyl xylopyranosides in the mammary gland of lactating cow

A Comparative Review of the Cell Biology, Biochemistry, and Genetics of Lactose Synthesis

Lactose is the primary carbohydrate in the milk of most mammals and is unique in that it is only synthesized by epithelial cells in the mammary glands. Lactose is also essential for the development and nutrition of infants. Across species, the concentration of lactose in milk holds a strong positive correlation with overall milk volume. Additionally, there is a range of examples where the onset of lactose synthesis as well as the content of lactose in milk varies between species and throughout a lactation. Despite this diversity, the precursors, genes, proteins and ions that regulate lactose synthesis have not received the depth of study they likely deserve relative to the significance of this simple and abundant molecule. Through this review, our objective is to highlight the requirements for lactose synthesis at the biochemical, cellular and temporal levels through a comparative approach. This overview also serves as the prelude to a companion review describing the dietary, hormonal, molecular, and genetic factors that regulate lactose synthesis.

Regiospecific synthesis of lactose analog Gal-(β 1,4)-Xyl by transgalactosylation

A short enzymatic synthesis of disaccharide 4-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl-D-xylose (1) has been developed, which is of interest as a lactose analog for a non-invasive medicinal determination of lactose intolerance. The starting material, benzyl α-D-xyloside, was obtained by a Fischer-type glycosidation of D-xylose with benzyl alcohol, followed by anomeric differentiation of mixed glycosides using a glycosidase from Aspergillus oryzae. From several commercial β-galactosidases, which were screened for their transgalactosylation capacity, the enzyme from Escherichia coli was found to catalyze a virtually regio- and stereospecific galactosyl transfer from donor compounds o-nitrophenyl β-D-galactoside or lactose to the α-D-xyloside. Subsequent hydrogenolytic deprotection furnished desired disaccharide 1.Key words: oligosaccharide synthesis, β-galactosidase, lactose intolerance.

Biosynthesis of lactosamine in bovine mammary gland

Lactosamine (beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)-D-GlcN) was isolated from bovine milk sampled after intravenous infusion of glucosamine through the jugular vein of a lactating cow. The chemical structure was established by 2D NMR spectroscopy and electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESIMS). Selected ion monitoring liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (SIMLC-MS) of the perbenzoylated carbohydrate fraction showed the presence of the novel disaccharide in the milk sample after infusion, but not in the control bovine milk sample. The results showed the uptake of glucosamine in bovine mammary gland, and also indicated that a part of glucosamine was metabolised to the product lactosamine.