Identification of prolactin and growth hormone binding proteins in rabbit milk

Two distinct soluble proteins that specifically bind 125I-labeled human growth hormone (GH) are identified in the supernatant of ultracentrifuged rabbit milk, using HPLC gel filtration. The higher molecular weight proteins is GH specific, whereas the other one is specific for prolactin (PRL). The PRL-binding protein has a very high affinity for the hormone, almost 10 times higher than the affinity of the mammary gland membrane receptor. The PRL-binding protein is immunoprecipitated by a monoclonal antibody against the PRL receptor; another monoclonal antibody, which inhibits the PRL binding to mammary gland membranes, is a poor competitor for the PRL binding to the milk protein. These findings suggest that the milk PRL-binding protein corresponds to the binding domain of the receptor, but also that the conformation of the receptor and of the binding protein might differ. The milk and the plasma GH-binding proteins have a similar binding affinity. In cross-linking experiments using 125I-labeled human GH, the Mr of the GH-binding protein and of the PRL-binding protein were estimated to be 51,000 and 33,000, respectively. The binding proteins identified in the present work are probably responsible for the transport of their specific ligands in the milk. It is also conceivable that they have a role in the effects of GH and PRL in the mammary gland and/or the intestine of the young.