Lack of functional alpha-lactalbumin prevents involution in Cape fur seals and identifies the protein as an apoptotic milk factor in mammary gland involution
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The mammary gland undergoes a sophisticated programme of developmental changes during pregnancy/lactation. However, little is known about processes involving initiation of apoptosis at involution following weaning. We used fur seals...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2008-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Biology |
| Online Access: | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7007/6/48 |
| _version_ | 1828257304248582144 |
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| author | Lefèvre Christophe Sharp Julie A Nicholas Kevin R |
| author_facet | Lefèvre Christophe Sharp Julie A Nicholas Kevin R |
| author_sort | Lefèvre Christophe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The mammary gland undergoes a sophisticated programme of developmental changes during pregnancy/lactation. However, little is known about processes involving initiation of apoptosis at involution following weaning. We used fur seals as models to study the molecular process of involution as these animals display a unique mammary gland phenotype. Fur seals have long lactation periods whereby mothers cycle between secreting copious quantities of milk for 2 to 3 days suckling pups on land, with trips to sea alone to forage for up to 23 days during which time mammary glands remain active without initiating apoptosis/involution.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We show the molecular basis by which alpha-lactalbumin (LALBA), a secreted milk protein, is absent in Cape fur seals and demonstrate an apoptotic function for LALBA when exposed to mammary cells.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We propose that apoptosis does not occur in fur seal mammary glands due to lack of LALBA in fur seal milk, allowing evasion of involution during a foraging trip. Our work identifies LALBA as a milk factor that feeds back on the mammary gland to regulate involution.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T02:39:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a7d4ba6102cb4d8baf40d6e795dea38f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1741-7007 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T02:39:39Z |
| publishDate | 2008-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-a7d4ba6102cb4d8baf40d6e795dea38f2022-12-22T03:06:15ZengBMCBMC Biology1741-70072008-11-01614810.1186/1741-7007-6-48Lack of functional alpha-lactalbumin prevents involution in Cape fur seals and identifies the protein as an apoptotic milk factor in mammary gland involutionLefèvre ChristopheSharp Julie ANicholas Kevin R<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The mammary gland undergoes a sophisticated programme of developmental changes during pregnancy/lactation. However, little is known about processes involving initiation of apoptosis at involution following weaning. We used fur seals as models to study the molecular process of involution as these animals display a unique mammary gland phenotype. Fur seals have long lactation periods whereby mothers cycle between secreting copious quantities of milk for 2 to 3 days suckling pups on land, with trips to sea alone to forage for up to 23 days during which time mammary glands remain active without initiating apoptosis/involution.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We show the molecular basis by which alpha-lactalbumin (LALBA), a secreted milk protein, is absent in Cape fur seals and demonstrate an apoptotic function for LALBA when exposed to mammary cells.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We propose that apoptosis does not occur in fur seal mammary glands due to lack of LALBA in fur seal milk, allowing evasion of involution during a foraging trip. Our work identifies LALBA as a milk factor that feeds back on the mammary gland to regulate involution.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7007/6/48 |
| spellingShingle | Lefèvre Christophe Sharp Julie A Nicholas Kevin R Lack of functional alpha-lactalbumin prevents involution in Cape fur seals and identifies the protein as an apoptotic milk factor in mammary gland involution BMC Biology |
| title | Lack of functional alpha-lactalbumin prevents involution in Cape fur seals and identifies the protein as an apoptotic milk factor in mammary gland involution |
| title_full | Lack of functional alpha-lactalbumin prevents involution in Cape fur seals and identifies the protein as an apoptotic milk factor in mammary gland involution |
| title_fullStr | Lack of functional alpha-lactalbumin prevents involution in Cape fur seals and identifies the protein as an apoptotic milk factor in mammary gland involution |
| title_full_unstemmed | Lack of functional alpha-lactalbumin prevents involution in Cape fur seals and identifies the protein as an apoptotic milk factor in mammary gland involution |
| title_short | Lack of functional alpha-lactalbumin prevents involution in Cape fur seals and identifies the protein as an apoptotic milk factor in mammary gland involution |
| title_sort | lack of functional alpha lactalbumin prevents involution in cape fur seals and identifies the protein as an apoptotic milk factor in mammary gland involution |
| url | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7007/6/48 |
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