Abstract
Extract: Two milk-specific glycoprotein fractions and serum orosomucoid were isolated from mature human milk. One of the milk-specific glycoproteins was homogeneous and was termed glycoprotein A. Its sedimentation and diffusion constants were 2.6 S and 6.3 F, respectively, giving a molecular weight of 29,500. It contained some 70% carbohydrate consisting of sialic acid, galactose, fucose, glucosamine, and galactosamine. It was not immunologically related to serum orosomucoid. The other glycoprotein, called glycoprotein B, was heterogeneous with an average molecular weight of near 4,000, and carbohydrate comprised some 75% of its weight. Both glycoprotein fractions supported the growth of Lactobacillus bifidus var. Penn. Removal of sialic acid enhanced the growth-promoting activity of glycoprotein B but not of A.
Speculation: Mature human milk whey contains a number of glycoproteins that stimulate the growth of L. bifidus var. Penn. These glycoproteins may act in concert with the well known oligosaccharides to maintain an acid environment in the infant's gastrointestinal tract.
Similar content being viewed by others
Log in or create a free account to read this content
Gain free access to this article, as well as selected content from this journal and more on nature.com
or
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bezkorovainy, A., Nichols, J. Glycoproteins from Mature Human Milk Whey. Pediatr Res 10, 1–5 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197601000-00001
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197601000-00001
