Journal of Dairy Research

Table of Contents - October 1977 - Volume 44, Issue 03  

Original Articles

Milk-fat globule membranes: chemical composition and phosphoesterase activities during lactation

Teresa Diaz-Mauriñoa1 and M. Nietoa2

a1 Institute de Productos Lácteos, Arganda del Rey, Madrid, Spain

a2 Sectión de Bioquímica de Membranas, Velázquez, 144, Madrid-6, Spain

Summary

The morphology, protein and glycoprotein composition, amino-acid analysis, phospholipid and carbohydrate contents and 3 phosphoesterase activities of the milk-fat globule membranes were studied in 4 cows during their whole period of lactation. No differences were found in the morphology and the overall chemical composition. However, glycoprotein composition varied with the cow and, for each cow, with the stage of lactation. The differences were more marked for membranes obtained from colostrum. Acid phosphomonoesterase was practically unchanged during the whole period of lactation, while alkaline phosphomonoesterase and phosphodiesterase increased as lactation proceeded.

(Received November 23 1976)