Butyrophilin and xanthine oxidase occur in constant molar proportions in milk lipid globule membrane but vary in amount with breed and stage of lactation

Summary

Butyrophilin and xanthine oxidase, major proteins of milk lipid globule membrane, both accounted for significantly higher percentages of total protein in membrane samples from Holstein than from Jersey animals. Both were high in membranes from animals in early lactation, both decreased in amount as lactation progressed to the midpoint, and then both rose in amount toward the end of lactation. In samples from both Holstein and Jersey animals, butyrophilin and xanthine oxidase were present in constant molar proportions of about 4∶1. These proteins co-enriched together with low molecular weight GTP-binding proteins in a high salt and nonionic detergent insoluble fraction of milk lipid globule membrane. Butyrophilin and xanthine oxidase content of membranes was not related to milk lipid globule diameter, suggesting that these proteins alone may not be involved solely in anchoring the membrane to the lipid globule surface. However, the possibility that a complex composed in part of butyrophilin and xanthine oxidase serves an anchoring function remains a possibility.