Abstract
Milk protein gene expression varies during the pregnancy/lactation cycle under the influence of lactogenic hormones which induce the activation of several transcription factors. Beyond this activation modifying the binding properties of these factors to their consensus sequences, their interactions with DNA is regulated by variations of the chromatin structure. In the nuclei of the mammary epithelial cell, the three dimensional organisation of the chromatin loops, located between matrix attachment regions, is now being studied. The main milk components are organised in supramolecular structures. Milk fat globules are made of a triglyceride core enwrapped by a tripartite membrane originating from various intracellular compartments. The caseins, the main milk proteins, form aggregates: the casein micelles. Their gradual aggregation in the secretory pathway is initiated as soon as from the endoplasmic reticulum. The mesostructures of the milk fat globule and of the casein micelle remain to be elucidated. Our goal is to make some progress into the understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in the formation of these milk products.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Breast / cytology
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Breast / metabolism
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Caseins / biosynthesis
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Caseins / chemistry
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Caseins / genetics
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Cattle
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Cell Nucleus / physiology*
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Cell Nucleus / ultrastructure
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Chromatin / genetics
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Chromatin / ultrastructure
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Cystine / physiology
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Epithelial Cells / metabolism
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Female
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Gene Expression Regulation / physiology*
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Genes, Regulator
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Glycolipids / metabolism
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Glycoproteins / metabolism
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Glycoproteins / ultrastructure
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Hormones / physiology
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Humans
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Intracellular Membranes / physiology
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Intracellular Membranes / ultrastructure
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Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
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Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / physiology
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Lactation / genetics
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Lactation / physiology*
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Lipid Droplets
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Mammary Glands, Animal / cytology
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Mammary Glands, Animal / metabolism*
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Membrane Proteins / genetics
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Membrane Proteins / physiology
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Mice
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Micelles
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Milk Proteins / biosynthesis
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Milk Proteins / genetics*
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Nuclear Matrix / physiology
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Nuclear Matrix / ultrastructure
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Rabbits
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Receptor Activity-Modifying Proteins
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Transcription Factors / physiology
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Triglycerides / metabolism
Substances
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Caseins
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Chromatin
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Glycolipids
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Glycoproteins
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Hormones
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Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
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Membrane Proteins
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Micelles
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Milk Proteins
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Receptor Activity-Modifying Proteins
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Transcription Factors
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Triglycerides
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milk fat globule
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whey acidic proteins
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Cystine