An in depth proteomic analysis based on ProteoMiner, affinity chromatography and nano-HPLC–MS/MS to explain the potential health benefits of bovine colostrum

• An in-depth bovine colostrum proteome via combinatorial peptide ligand libraries at different pH and affinity chromatography has been reported.
• The biological functions and the potential health benefits of the 634 proteins identified via MS analysis were explored by bioinformatics tools.
• A set of 93 proteins involved in the wound healing process was identified.
• The proposed approach permits the exploration of novel biological functions of BC.

Bovine colostrum (BC), the initial milk secreted by the mammary gland immediately after parturition, is widely used for several health applications. We here propose an off-target method based on proteomic analysis to explain at molecular level the potential health benefits of BC. The method is based on the set-up of an exhaustive protein data bank of bovine colostrum, including the minor protein components, followed by a bioinformatic functional analysis. The proteomic approach based on ProteoMiner technology combined to a highly selective affinity chromatography approach for the immunoglobulins depletion, identified 1786 proteins (medium confidence; 634 when setting high confidence), which were then clustered on the basis of their biological function. Protein networks were then created on the basis of the biological functions or health claims as input. A set of 93 proteins involved in the wound healing process was identified. Such an approach also permits the exploration of novel biological functions of BC by searching in the database the presence of proteins characterized by innovative functions. In conclusion an advanced approach based on an in depth proteomic analysis is reported which permits an explanation of the wound healing effect of bovine colostrum at molecular level and allows the search of novel potential beneficial effects.