Regulation of Key Genes for Milk Fat Synthesis in Ruminants

Front Nutr. 2021 Nov 25:8:765147. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2021.765147. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Milk fat is the most important and energy-rich substance in milk and plays an important role in the metabolism of nutrients during human growth and development. It is mainly used in the production of butter and yogurt. Milk fat not only affects the flavor and nutritional value of milk, but also is the main target trait of ruminant breeding. There are many key genes involve in ruminant milk fat synthesis, including ACSS2, FASN, ACACA, CD36, ACSL, SLC27A, FABP3, SCD, GPAM, AGPAT, LPIN, DGAT1, PLIN2, XDH, and BTN1A1. Taking the de novo synthesis of fatty acids (FA) and intaking of long-chain fatty acids (LCFA) in blood to the end of lipid droplet secretion as the mainline, this manuscript elucidates the complex regulation model of key genes in mammary epithelial cells (MECs) in ruminant milk fat synthesis, and constructs the whole regulatory network of milk fat synthesis, to provide valuable theoretical basis and research ideas for the study of milk fat regulation mechanism of ruminants.

Keywords: genes; milk fat; regulatory factors; ruminants; synthesis.

Publication types

  • Review