Electrophoretic Characterization of Milk Proteins from Bulgarian Rhodopean Cattle

ZAGORCHEV, L., M. DIMITROVA, M. ODJAKOVA, D. TEOFANOVA and P. HRISTOV, 2013. Electrophoretic characterization of milk proteins from Bulgarian Rhodopean cattle. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., Supplement 2, 19: 197–200 αs1-casein, κ-casein and β-lactoglobulin show comparatively the highest polymorphism among the bovine milk proteins. Therefore, they have been extensively investigated in respect to identify the correlation between this polymorphism and the qualitative and quantitative milk traits. It is possible, based on the variability of milk proteins, to clarify the phylogenetic relationships between different cattle breeds and to gather the necessary data to preserve the genetic fund and biodiversity of the local breeds. In the present study an optimized 2D electrophoretic method for milk protein profi ling is used to determine the variation in the isoforms of αs1-casein, κ-casein and β-lactoglobulin in the Bulgarian Rhodopean cattle. In addition, the possible relation between this polymorphism and the qualitative features of milk are discussed. Several different genotypes for each of the milk protein genes were established in the investigated population. The method proposed here is a highly sensitive system for milk protein investigation. It could be used to determine the phylogenetic origin of a given cattle breed but also to maintain a highly productive selection and preservation strategy. In addition, the electrophoretic method could be successfully applied to industry in respect of quality control of commercial milk products.