Quantitative differences in whey proteins among Murrah, Nili-Ravi and Mediterranean buffaloes using a TMT proteomic approach

The aim of this study was to characterize whey proteins and their potential activities among buffalo breeds. In this work, a tandem mass tag (TMT) proteomic approach was used to identify the differences in the proteomes of milk whey proteins in Murrah, Nili-Ravi and Mediterranean buffaloes. A total of 580 proteins were identified in buffalo milk whey, and the subunits of the 62 differentially expressed proteins are shown in clustering analysis. Whey proteins with relatively higher levels in Mediterranean buffalo milk than in Murrah and Nili-Ravi buffalo milk included polymeric immunoglobulin receptor, α1-antiproteinase, heat shock cognate 71-kDa protein, and Acyl-CoA-binding protein. Most of the differentially expressed proteins participate in complement and coagulation cascades, which are strongly related to immune protective activities. These results provide insight into the complexity of the buffalo milk whey proteome and provide molecular evidence for nutritive differences among buffalo breeds.