Characterization of whey proteins from mongolian yak, khainak, and bactrian camel

The composition of whey proteins from ruminant Mongolian domestic animals was analyzed and a comparative study between camel (Camelus bactrianus) and dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) was made. Whey proteins were separated by ion-exchange chromatography and identified by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, amino acid composition and N-terminal sequence determination. The main components of wheys of yak and khainak were nearly identical with their bovine counterparts. Three different forms of alpha-lactalbumin were isolated in the whey of Camelus bactrianus and two from Camelus dromedarius. As shown by classical biochemical and immunological studies, beta-lactoglobulin was absent from whey of both Camelus. Camel whey basic protein (CWBP), having no analogy with known milk and nonmilk proteins, was identified in the whey of Camelus bactrianus and Camelus dromedarius and its N-terminal sequence was determined.