Biomaterial Database

Zinc-binding properties of bovine and human milk in vitro: influence of changes in zinc content. 1980

R J Cousins, and K T Smith

The total zinc content of samples of fat-free human and bovine milk was 3.5 and 3.6 micrograms/ml, respectively. The total protein content was 5.3 and 29.0 mg/ml, respectively, Sephadex G-75 gel filtration chromatography of bovine milk revealed no evidence of zinc associated with low molecular weight fractions (less than 2000 daltons). However, chromatography revealed that 10% of the zinc in human milk was associated with these fractions. When the zinc content of these milks was raised by adding Zn2+ in vitro, chromatography of milk from both species revealed the presence of zinc with the low molecular weight fractions. More zinc was associated with these fractions from human milk than from bovine milk. Recovery of zinc was nearly 100% for all columns. It is proposed, based upon these binding data, that the association of zinc with low molecular weight components of milk is related in part to both protein content and composition and the relative zinc concentrations. These binding differences might influence the bioavailability of zinc from milk.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008024	Ligands	A molecule that binds to another molecule, used especially to refer to a small molecule that binds specifically to a larger molecule, e.g., an antigen binding to an antibody, a hormone or neurotransmitter binding to a receptor, or a substrate or allosteric effector binding to an enzyme. Ligands are also molecules that donate or accept a pair of electrons to form a coordinate covalent bond with the central metal atom of a coordination complex. (From Dorland, 27th ed)	Ligand
D008892	Milk	The off-white liquid secreted by the mammary glands of humans and other mammals. It contains proteins, sugar, lipids, vitamins, and minerals.	Cow Milk,Cow's Milk,Milk, Cow,Milk, Cow's
D008894	Milk Proteins	The major protein constituents of milk are CASEINS and whey proteins such as LACTALBUMIN and LACTOGLOBULINS. IMMUNOGLOBULINS occur in high concentrations in COLOSTRUM and in relatively lower concentrations in milk. (Singleton and Sainsbury, Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 2d ed, p554)	Milk Protein,Protein, Milk,Proteins, Milk
D008895	Milk, Human	Milk that is produced by HUMAN MAMMARY GLANDS.	Breast Milk,Human Milk,Milk, Breast
D008970	Molecular Weight	The sum of the weight of all the atoms in a molecule.	Molecular Weights,Weight, Molecular,Weights, Molecular
D011485	Protein Binding	The process in which substances, either endogenous or exogenous, bind to proteins, peptides, enzymes, protein precursors, or allied compounds. Specific protein-binding measures are often used as assays in diagnostic assessments.	Plasma Protein Binding Capacity,Binding, Protein
D002417	Cattle	Domesticated bovine animals of the genus Bos, usually kept on a farm or ranch and used for the production of meat or dairy products or for heavy labor.	Beef Cow,Bos grunniens,Bos indicus,Bos indicus Cattle,Bos taurus,Cow,Cow, Domestic,Dairy Cow,Holstein Cow,Indicine Cattle,Taurine Cattle,Taurus Cattle,Yak,Zebu,Beef Cows,Bos indicus Cattles,Cattle, Bos indicus,Cattle, Indicine,Cattle, Taurine,Cattle, Taurus,Cattles, Bos indicus,Cattles, Indicine,Cattles, Taurine,Cattles, Taurus,Cow, Beef,Cow, Dairy,Cow, Holstein,Cows,Dairy Cows,Domestic Cow,Domestic Cows,Indicine Cattles,Taurine Cattles,Taurus Cattles,Yaks,Zebus
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001682	Biological Availability	The extent to which the active ingredient of a drug dosage form becomes available at the site of drug action or in a biological medium believed to reflect accessibility to a site of action.	Availability Equivalency,Bioavailability,Physiologic Availability,Availability, Biologic,Availability, Biological,Availability, Physiologic,Biologic Availability,Availabilities, Biologic,Availabilities, Biological,Availabilities, Physiologic,Availability Equivalencies,Bioavailabilities,Biologic Availabilities,Biological Availabilities,Equivalencies, Availability,Equivalency, Availability,Physiologic Availabilities