What Can Proteomics Tell Us About The Mechanism of Milk Lipid Secretion

What Does Proteomics Tell Us About Milk Lipid Secretion?
Cytosolic lipid droplets (CLDs), the immediate precursors of milk lipids in lactating animals, undergo cell specific changes in their formation and intracellular distribution during mammary gland differentiation.  Proteomic studies show that CLDs from lactating mammary epithelial cells possess a distinct protein composition enriched in molecules involved their formation, intra-cellular transport and secretion.  Experiments are presented that illustrate the necessity of immunolocalization and expression studies in validating proteomic results and defining the biological roles of identified proteins.  Detailed studies of the CLD associated protein - adipophilin and the cytosolic protein xanthine oxidoreductase are presented that demonstrate how proteomics and immunolocalization can be integrated to provide insight into mechanisms of milk lipid secretion.