Proteomics of major bovine milk proteins: Novel insights

Milk proteomics covers the identification, characterisation and quantification of milk proteins. Its applications vary from the basic composition of milk proteins to their post-translational modifications (PTMs), occurring naturally or via processing and storage. Through the combination of liquid chromatography or two-dimensional gel electrophoresis with advanced mass spectrometry, milk proteomics has revealed PTMs that affect milk protein structural and functional properties. This review discusses detection by proteomics-based methods with special emphasis on natural and process induced PTMs in the major bovine milk proteins. The review covers the importance of milk proteomics in determining PTMs, especially those formed by heat treatment and during storage, and highlights some breakthroughs in PTM studies. Furthermore, aspects and applications of quantitative proteomics on milk proteins and bioinformatics are covered.