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Updated: May 7, 2026
Bovine Mammary Gland Biopsy Techniques
Published on: December 23, 2018
Proteome analysis of functionally differentiated bovine (Bos indicus) mammary epithelial cells isolated from milk
Jagadeesh Janjanam1, Manu Jamwal, Surender Singh
1Animal Biotechnology Center, National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal, India.
Insights
Researchers mapped the proteins in mammary epithelial cells (MECs) of lactating cows. This study identified 497 unique proteins, revealing key players in milk production and providing a resource for understanding lactation.
Area of Science:
- Proteomics
- Animal Science
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Mammary epithelial cells (MECs) are crucial for milk secretion during lactation.
- The protein expression and functional roles of MECs during lactation are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create a comprehensive proteome map of MECs from lactating cows.
- To identify proteins involved in the lactation process and their functional pathways.
Main Methods:
- Mammary epithelial cells (MECs) were isolated from milk using immunomagnetic beads.
- Protein identification was performed using 2DE MALDI-TOF/TOF MS and 1D-Gel-LC-MS/MS techniques.
- Bioinformatics tools were used for protein clustering and pathway analysis.
Main Results:
- A total of 497 unique proteins were identified in MECs.
- Proteins were clustered into functional groups, with pathway analysis revealing 28 significant pathways related to lactation.
- Experimental evidence was provided for proteins predicted in the annotated bovine genome.
Conclusions:
- This study presents the first extensive proteome map of bovine MECs during lactation.
- The identified proteins offer insights into the molecular mechanisms of lactation.
- The generated data serves as a valuable resource for future research on bovine mammary gland function.
Abstract:
Mammary gland is made up of a branching network of ducts that end in alveoli. Terminally differentiated mammary epithelial cells (MECs) constitute the innermost layer of aveoli. They are milk-secreting cuboidal cells that secrete milk proteins during lactation. Little is known about the expression profile of proteins in the metabolically active MECs during lactation or their functional role in the lactation process. In the present investigation, we have reported the proteome map of MECs in lactating cows using 2DE MALDI-TOF/TOF MS and 1D-Gel-LC-MS/MS. MECs were isolated from milk using immunomagnetic beads and confirmed by RT-PCR and Western blotting. The 1D-Gel-LC-MS/MS and 2DE-MS/MS based approaches led to identification of 431 and 134 proteins, respectively, with a total of 497 unique proteins. Proteins identified in this study were clustered into functional groups using bioinformatics tools. Pathway analysis of the identified proteins revealed 28 pathways (p < 0.05) providing evidence for involvement of various proteins in lactation function. This study further provides experimental evidence for the presence of many proteins that have been predicted in annotated bovine genome. The data generated further provide a set of bovine MEC-specific proteins that will help the researchers to understand the molecular events taking place during lactation.
