Comparative metabolomics analysis of milk components between Italian Mediterranean buffaloes and Chinese Holstein cows based on LC-MS/MS technology

PLoS One. 2022 Jan 25;17(1):e0262878. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262878. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Buffalo and cow milk have a very different composition in terms of fat, protein, and total solids. For a better knowledge of such a difference, the milk metabolic profiles and characteristics of metabolites was investigated in Italian Mediterranean buffaloes and Chinese Holstein cows were investigated by liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in this study. Totally, 23 differential metabolites were identified to be significantly different in the milk from the two species of which 15 were up-regulated and 8 down-regulated in Italian Mediterranean buffaloes. Metabolic pathway analysis revealed that 4 metabolites (choline, acetylcholine, nicotinamide and uric acid) were significantly enriched in glycerophospholipid metabolism, nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism, glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, as well as purine metabolism. The results provided further insights for a deep understanding of the potential metabolic mechanisms responsible for the different performance of Italian Mediterranean buffaloes' and Chinese Holstein cows' milk. The findings will offer new tools for the improvement and novel directions for the development of dairy industry.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Buffaloes / metabolism*
  • Cattle / metabolism*
  • China
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Female
  • Italy
  • Metabolomics*
  • Milk / chemistry*
  • Milk / metabolism*
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry*

Grants and funding

This research was funded by Science and Technology Major Project of Guangxi (AA17204051, AB16380042, AB18221120), Guangxi Bagui Scholar Program, National Natural Science Foundation of China (31860638, 31760648) and Innovation Project of Guangxi Graduate Education (YCBZ2018004). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.