Lateral lipid organization of the bovine milk fat globule membrane is revealed by washing processes

Evidence for the asymmetric distribution of phospholipids in the milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) was obtained by applying 3 washing processes using aqueous solutions with different degrees of stringency (mild, intermediate, and intensive) to milk fat globule (MFG) surfaces in simulated milk ultrafiltrate buffer. We detected no change in the amount of cholesterol after the mild washing process; however, intensive washing yielded a relative enrichment of surface cholesterol with concomitant damage to the outer bilayer of the MFGM. This finding supports the hypothesis of repartitioning of cholesterol on MFG surfaces during mechanical treatments. An updated model system of lipid organization was developed according to the results of relative depletion of individual phospholipids, as analyzed by HPLC.