A comparative study of free oligosaccharides in the milk of domestic animals

Br J Nutr. 2014 Apr 14;111(7):1313-28. doi: 10.1017/S0007114513003772.

Abstract

The present study was conducted to obtain a comprehensive overview of oligosaccharides present in the milk of a variety of important domestic animals including cows, goats, sheep, pigs, horses and dromedary camels. Using an analytical workflow that included ultra-performance liquid chromatography-hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight MS, detailed oligosaccharide libraries were established. The partial or full characterisation of the neutral/fucosylated, phosphorylated and sialylated structures was facilitated by sequencing with linkage- and sugar-specific exoglycosidases. Relative peak quantification of the 2-aminobenzamide-labelled oligosaccharides provided additional information. Milk from domestic animals contained a much larger variety of complex oligosaccharides than was previously assumed, and thirteen of these structures have been identified previously in human milk. The direct comparison of the oligosaccharide mixtures reflects their role in the postnatal maturation of different types of gastrointestinal systems, which, in this way, are prepared for certain post-weaning diets. The potential value of animal milk for the commercial extraction of oligosaccharides to be used in human and animal health is highlighted.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkaline Phosphatase / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Animals, Inbred Strains
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Camelus
  • Cattle
  • Colostrum / chemistry*
  • Female
  • Glycoside Hydrolases / metabolism
  • Goats
  • Horses
  • Ireland
  • Milk / chemistry*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Oligosaccharides / analysis*
  • Oligosaccharides / chemistry
  • Oligosaccharides / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Sheep, Domestic
  • Sus scrofa
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Oligosaccharides
  • Alkaline Phosphatase
  • Glycoside Hydrolases