A bovine lipocalin, previously identified as a putative odorant-binding protein in bovine colostrum (bcOBP), was cloned and expressed, and its monoclonal antibody was established. bcOBP was constantly secreted into milk on day of parturition until at least 10 d postpartum at a concentration of 181±39 µg/L. Besides milk, bcOBP occurred in the nasal mucus, saliva, amniotic fluid, vaginal discharge, and blood plasma. Despite its low concentration, the distribution pattern and the finding that bcOBP harbored a characteristic sequence motif, CxxxC, which is conserved among insect and mammal pheromone binding proteins, suggest that bcOBP functions as a pheromone carrier. The presence of bcOBP in the plasma at varied concentrations depending on the lactation period does not exclude the possibility that bcOBP is secreted into milk from the blood. Cross-reactivity of the monoclonal antibody indicated presence of proteins homologous to bcOBP in the colostrum of farm animals of Cetartiodactyla.
Bovine colostral odorant-binding protein (bcOBP) is a novel protein found in bovine colostrum and belonging to the lipocalin superfamily. Most of them are secretory proteins. We have examined the localisation of bcOBP messenger RNA in several tissues. The expression of bcOBP messenger RNAs was followed in bovine principal organs and female reproductive tracts with in situ hybridisation, but the localisation of it was not detected. The expression levels of bcOBP mRNAs were also extremely low in those tissues. On the other hand, the expression of bcOBP messenger RNAs has not been found in the airway epithelia and the gallbladder. These results suggest that bcOBP messenger RNAs are expressed in bovine several tissues without its localisation. In conclusion, the localisation of bcOBP messenger RNAs in bovine several tissues was not found.
A novel protein, bcOBP was found in bovine colostrums. This protein belongs to the lipocalin superfamily, most of them are secretory proteins. The aim of this study was to investigate organs that express bcOBP mRNA with its expression level and to determine the origin of bcOBP in the bovine body. We quantified bcOBP mRNA in several organs of bovine body with qPCR. The expression was found in the principal organs (heart, liver and kidney), node and mammary gland. In addition, the expression level of bcOBP in heart is as much as in kidney among principal organs. Further, in situ hybridization analysis opened the possibility that bcOBP in bovine colostrums might be secreted from the mammary alveolus in mammary gland. Our study provides a fundamental concept for lacto protein.
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