Site-specific glycoproteomic analysis of purified lactoferrin from human and animal milk

Lactoferrin is a highly glycosylated protein, which have important biological functions in the growth and development of neonates. However, the glycoforms and glycosylation sites differed between species. The aim of the study was to identify the glycosylation profile (including glycosites, glycan structures, and glycoforms) of purified lactoferrin from human and animal (cow, goat, sheep) milk by using site-specific glycoproteomics technique. In total, a number of 89 N-glycans were identified in human and animal milk lactoferrin. We identified three N-glycosites with 23 different compositions of N-glycans in cow lactoferrin (CLF), four distinctive N-glycosites with 34 dissimilar N-glycan compositions in goat lactoferrin (GLF), five N-glycosites with 57 different N-glycan compositions in sheep lactoferrin (SLF), while five unique N-glycosites with 50 different N-glycan compositions were ascertained in human lactoferrin (HLF). HLF had the most complex glycan, while animal lactoferrin had the most high-mannose glycoforms. The results of this study further our understanding of lactoferrin differences between human and animal milk, which can provide a perspective on the analysis of differences in functional characteristics.