Isolation and characterization of several glycoproteins from human colostrum whey

Five homogeneous closely related glycoproteins were isolated from human colostrum whey, and their molecular weights and carbohydrate contents ranged from 26 000 to 35 000 and from 50 to 80%, respectively. All had the Lactobacillus bifidus var. Pennsylvanicus growth-promoting activity, which was not substantially altered by desialization. Neither human colostrum, milk or the glycoproteins had any cellular immunity-mediating activity. Degradation of the carbohydrate moieties of these glycoproteins indicated that each contained non-identical carbohydrate chains.