[Frontiers in Bioscience E2, 526-536, January 1, 2010]

Detailed proteomic analysis on DM: insight into its hypoallergenicity

Enrico Bertino1, Daniela Gastaldi2, Giovanna Monti3, Cristina Baro4, Donatella Fortunato4, Lorenza Perono Garoffo4, Alessandra Coscia1, Claudio Fabris1, Michele Mussap5, Amedeo Conti4

1Neonatal Unit, Department of Paediatric and Adolescence Science, University of Turin, Italy, 2Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Turin, Italy, 3Department. of Paediatric and Adolescence Science, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, Turin, Italy, 4CNR-Institute of Science of Food Production, Turin, Italy, 5Biochemical and Clinical Laboratory, San Martino Hospital, Genoa, Italy

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Abstract
2. Introduction
3. Materials and Methods
3.1. Sample preparation
3.2. Protein separation - 2DE
3.3. Staining and Imaging
3.4. Protein identification
4. Results and Discussion
4.1. Protein fraction
4.2. Donkey milk protein features
4.2.1. alpha-s1-casein
4.2.2. alpha-s2-casein
4.2.3. beta-casein
4.2.4. kappa-casein
4.2.5. alpha-lactalbumin
4.2.6. beta-lactoglobulin
5. Acknowledgement
6. References

1. ABSTRACT

Successful therapy in cow milk (CM) protein allergy rests upon completely eliminating CM proteins from the child's diet: it is thus necessary to provide a replacement food. Donkey milk (DM) has recently aroused scientific and clinical interest, above all among paediatric allergologists. A deeper knowledge of proteins in DM is necessary to evaluate the immunological and physiological properties of this natural substitute for cow's milk. The paper offers a detailed comparative analysis among the protein fractions of DM, CM and human milk, following an extensive proteomic study of the casein and whey proteins of DM performed by narrow pH range 2-DE. The detailed protein composition and structural features reported in this study provide insight into the molecular reasons for the hypoallergenicity of DM. Whole DM might constitute a valid substitute of CM in feeding childre