Characterization of caseins from Mongolian yak, khainak, and bactrian camel

Abstract

The composition of acid-precipitated caseins from ruminant Mongolian domestic animals was analyzed and a comparative study between camel (Camelus bactrianus) and dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) was realized. Acid-precipitated whole caseins were analyzed for amino acid composition, separated by anion exchange chromatography and identified by alkaline urea-PAGE. Elution profiles and electrophoretic mobilities of the main components of yak and khainak caseins were nearly identical to their cow counterparts. However, the main part of αS1-casein of yak was eluted in lower molarity in NaCl. Characterization by PAGE, amino acid composition and N-terminal sequence of individual caseins from camel (Camelus bactrianus) indicated that milk of this ruminant contains dominantly αS1-, αS2 and β-casein and small amounts of κ-casein as is the case for the milk of dromedary (Camelus dromedarius).