Abstract
Milk is a lipid-in-water emulsion with a primary role in the nutrition of newborns. Milk fat globules (MFGs) are a mixture of proteins and lipids with nutraceutical properties related to the milk fat globule membrane (MFGM), which protects them, thus preventing their coalescence. Human and bovine MFGM proteomes have been extensively characterized in terms of their formation, maturation, and composition. Here, we review the most recent comparative proteomic analyses of MFGM proteome, above all from humans and bovines, but also from other species. The major MFGM proteins are found in all the MFGM proteomes of the different species, although there are variations in protein expression levels and molecular functions across species and lactation stages. Given the similarities between the human and bovine MFGM and the bioactive properties of MFGM components, several attempts have been made to supplement infant formulas (IFs), mainly with polar lipid fractions of bovine MFGM and to a lesser extent with protein fractions. The aim is thus to narrow the gap between human breast milk and cow-based IFs. Despite the few attempts made to date, supplementation with MFGM proteins seems promising as MFGM lipid supplementation. A deeper understanding of MFGM proteomes should lead to better results.
Highlights
Bovine milk is an oil-in-water emulsion and is rich in nutrients and bioactive factors
The aim of this review is to provide a general overview about the formation of bovine milk fat globules (MFGs) and milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) and to highlight the main similarities and differences across the MFGM proteomes of the most-studied species through the analysis of comparative proteomic studies
Each study is a step forward in terms of the knowledge regarding MFGM proteome. The potential of these results could facilitate the correct management of the MFGM proteome in the design of products such as infant formulas (IFs) supplemented with specific MFGM proteins
Summary
Bovine milk is an oil-in-water emulsion and is rich in nutrients and bioactive factors. MFGs are composed of a nonpolar triglyceride (TG) core and are covered in a layer of surface-active material, which is needed to maintain their stability in the emulsion and to protect them from enzymatic degradation and coalescence. This membrane is called the milk fat globule membrane. Bovine MFGM is about 10–20 nm in cross-section and its mass accounts for 2–6% of the total MFG mass [9] It is made up of many different compounds: polar lipids such as phospholipids, sphingolipids, and glycolipids, and cholesterol, proteins, and surface glycoproteins [10]. Is investigated in order to underline the beneficial effects exerted by MFGM bioactive components in infant feeding
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